Police are warning of the dangers of so-called legal highs after a man was found dead at Exeter bus station.
While the cause of death has yet to be confirmed, a post mortem and toxicology tests have established a potential link to new psychoactive substances, otherwise known as legal highs. An investigation is ongoing and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
The alarm was raised by a member of staff after the man was found in the toilets of the bus station on the evening of Saturday, October 18.
Paramedics attended but the man – a 30-year-old from the Tiverton area – was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is understood that legal high paraphernalia was found in the toilets, but police said they could not yet be certain of the cause of death.
Supt Keith Perkin, local policing commander for Exeter, East and Mid Devon, said: "There is a misconception that new psychoactive substances – or, as they are more commonly known, legal highs – are both legal and safe.
"People who use these substances need to be aware that there are grave health concerns in relation to them. This could be related to a death through an adverse physical reaction or through irrational behaviour.
"I have known of circumstances where people have fallen from heights through use of these substances. There are also legal considerations but my main message is that these substances can and do harm people and can lead to serious injury or death."
