Research chemical Benzo Fury is a hot item at summer music festivals, according to new reports. LONDON, June 14 — As summer music festival season ramps up, so does the use of what are dubbed "legal highs" — unregulated, legal drugs such as Benzo Fury, which are readily available on the Internet for about €12 (RM48) a pill.

After a 20-year-old man died from taking Benzo Fury at the RockNess festival in Scotland this weekend, UK physicians and police are issuing warnings about the dangers of such legal substances, particularly when combined with alcohol or other drugs.

"Our advice is simple: limit how much alcohol you drink, and don't take non-prescribed drugs," said UK public health consultant Dr. Cameron Stark.

"If however you have taken non-prescribed drugs including ‘legal highs,' it is really important that you don't combine them with alcohol. If you feel unwell or you are worried about a friend, please get immediate advice from the on-site medical team."

David Liddell, director of Scottish Drugs Forum, said in a press statement: "Benzo Fury is a so-called legal high — or New Psychoactive Drug — which appears to have a similar effect to [now banned] Ecstasy. It's one of the new legal highs developed to get around the banning of similar compounds."

"As it's not been around for long there is little information on long-term effects and as with all these drugs, there's no knowing what's actually in them," he continues. "The names are just to market them and may bear no relation to what's in them."

WebMD cites that other drugs that have been previously legal to buy in many countries but are now controlled under drug laws include mephedrone (meow meow), naphyrone, BZP, GBL and synthetic cannabinoids (such as those found in K2 and Spice products). — AFP-Relaxnews