15-Year-Old Girl's Death Linked To Suspected 'Legal High'

15-Year-Old Girl's Death Linked To Suspected 'Legal High'

Police have issued a warning about so-called legal highs after the death of a 15-year-old girl was linked to a "new psychoactive substance".

Devon and Cornwall Police said the teenager was found unconscious in Bakers Park in Newton Abbot, Devon, in the early hours of Saturday.

She was taken to Torbay District Hospital at around 4.50am, where she later died.

Two other teenage girls, who police believe may have taken the same substance, were taken to hospital as a precaution but have since been discharged.

Detective Superintendent Ken Lamont said officers were "confident" people knew where the drug came from and urged youngsters who were at the park or their parents to come forward with information.

He told ITV News: "Our working hypothesis is that this girl has taken what's called new psychoactive substances and unfortunately people still do term them as legal highs, that tends to give it some legitimacy. They're not legal. They're illegal, they're very, very dangerous, probably more dangerous than traditional drugs. People do not know what it is in them.

"It is a real safeguarding plea to the community, don't touch new psychoactive substances, they are very, very dangerous.

"Equally we are confident the community will know who supplied these drugs and we would appeal for them, maybe the youngsters who were there or parents of the youngsters...

"This girl has made a mistake, a lifestyle choice mistake, and has paid the ultimate price.

"I am certain the community know who has sold or given those drugs."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman added: "Police currently believe that the 15-year-old girl who died had taken a new psychoactive substance, more commonly referred to as 'legal highs', and had suffered adverse reaction."

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