AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a man died in Taunton in a death potentially involving so-called legal highs.

A 30-year-old man was found unresponsive at a property in Wheatley Crescent at 3.45pm yesterday (April 26) and subsequently died in one incident, while six other people exhibited symptoms associated with taking "Spice".

The seven people affected were all known to each other and were at the same address.

The other six did not attend hospital for treatment, the ambualnce service called the police.

Avon and Somerset Police say they are investigating whether there is an evidential link between the incidents, and if his death resulted from taking a Psychoactive Substance (PS).


RELATED: WARNING: Legal high Spice causing Taunton residents to fall ill


The force says there is information to suggest some of those affected may have taken the so-called legal high commonly referred to as Spice.

DCI Liz Hughes said: “These are clearly serious incident and we are warning people not to take these so-called legal highs.

“If you take an PS you are playing roulette with your health.

“Many of these types of products have not been tested on humans and can contain chemicals which, if consumed, can leave you at a grave risk of suffering serious ill health and can even prove fatal.”

PS are often sold as plant food, incense or research chemicals and are sometimes labelled ‘not fit for human consumption’.

These substances often have product names similar to the street drugs they mimic.

For more information about legal highs, their potential effects on health and details of support organisations, click here.