ThePeopleAlchemist Edit: HR, Business and the psychoactive substance act

New legislation comes into effect from 26 May (today) which prohibits the production, distribution, sale, and supply of all psychoactive substances. With the exception of those in use every day such as medicines, alcohol, cigarettes. And caffeine.

Legal highs imitate the effects of illegal drugs and contain synthetic compound. The new law contains new substances that were not controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Legal highs cannot be sold for human consumption. To get around this, they are often sold as plant food, incense. Or salts.

This specific piece of legislation means that drug and alcohol abuse policies will have to extend to cover/include legal highs.

There is a very helpful guide, produced by ACAS, which encourages employers to stick to the acronym CARR:

• Consider. Include legal highs when writing a drug/alcohol policy.
• Act . Be clear about what will happen if employees consume them.
• Remind. Tell employees if legal highs are not permitted at work.
• Read. Put policies in place sooner rather than later.

Are you an employer ? If yes, what are you doing about it?

Answers on a postcard.