PACKS containing hard-hitting information about legal highs are the latest means being used to banish the substances from Swindon.

The leaflets are being handed out to users of drug and alcohol services, but will eventually be given out by police, firefighters and ambulance crews.

The advice, written by Developing Health and Independence, a social exclusion charity based in Swindon, warns users they are playing ‘chemical Russian roulette’.

The information, also provided by the national Harm Reduction Works campaign includes how to stay safe after coming off hard drugs and details of agencies which can help.

The move comes after the Adver helped draw attention to the use of legal highs, which had led to a wave of health problems and several deaths.

At the start of the month admissions to Great Western Hospital, which had been among the highest in the country at the end of last year, had tailed off to almost zero . Richard Palusinksi, of Swindon’s Community Safety Partnership, said: “The idea is to give the packs to drug users so they can understand the risks involved with taking legal highs as opposed to other substances.

“People might only know what they hear on the street and we want them to have the right information. We are not telling them what to do, but letting kids an adults make their own choices."”

The safety partnership and DHI plan to refine the packs and are encouraging other organisations to contribute.

Mr Palusinksi said: “We also plan to shape the packs for use in a wider education programme involving older young people so they don't get tempted to go down that route.

“It’s a difficult balance between education and raising interest in the substances, but it is worth the risk to get the facts out there.”

The hand-out comes with introduction: “If you have been given this pack you have probably discovered the hard way there is a darker side to legal highs.

“This pack contains information about some of these substances that you really need to know and information about getting help with substance issues.”

One user is quoted as saying: “I seen a mater use a knife on his arms and legs, trying to cut out microchips that he thought were in there.”

The Adver's investigation in March included buying three substances online, one of which turned out to include a banned Class B substance.