'Legal highs' should be automatically banned, says government drugs adviser

Advisory council calls for tougher US-style system to control designer drugs that mimic effects of illegal substances

All "legal highs" or designer drugs such as mephedrone (or miaow miaow) that mimic the effects of established illegal drugs should be automatically banned, according to the government's official advisers on illicit substances.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) says the government needs to adopt a much tougher US-style system of controls. The recommendation comes after claims that new designer drugs have played a role in 42 deaths in the past two years.   More Read