Teenager could have been killed by a legal high
Police are warning people against the use of legal highs after the death of an 18 year-old man
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Tragic teenager named locally as Andrew Lourie
The teenager who is thought to have died as a result of taking legal highs has been named locally as Andrew Lourie.
The 18-year-old was taken from a house in Mortimer Road, on Friday night and died in the early hours of Saturday.
Although officers are still waiting for the results of toxicology tests, they're investigating the possibility he'd taken legal drugs.
Illegal high warning after teenager dies
by Rachel Sweeney
Police are warning of the dangers of legal highs after a teenager died in South Shields.
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Legal high could have killed teen
Police are warning users of legal highs after the death of a teenager in South Shields.
The teen was taken to hospital in the early hours of Saturday, February 25 and later died.
And while police are waiting for toxicology results, they are warning people against the use of the so-called highs.
Neighbourhood Inspector Peter Sutton said: "I would like to stress that the use of so called legal high drugs is not safe and can have a devastating impact upon your health."
Melanie Soutar, South Tyneside Matrix young people's service manager, said she wanted to tell people of the drugs' dangers.
She said: : "We need to continue to raise public awareness that just because a drug is legal to possess, it doesn’t mean it’s safe."
For free advice call the national drug awareness campaign FRANK on 08700 77 6600 or visit www.talktofrank.com.