The fortnight long campaign comes after the legal highs hit the headlines again, with a new report showing the number of deaths in Scotland involving the drugs more than doubled last year.

The two-week nationwide campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of taking New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and comes after a day of awarenees across the country last week.

That saw cops across Scotland swoop on premises last Friday (August 22) targeting premises suspected of selling NPS, and the ever increasing threat they pose.

Assistant Chief Constable, Ruaraidh Nicolson, who helped launch the campaign said police across the country were upping the ante on the problem.

He told the Reporter: “We remain committed to doing all we can to highlight the inherent dangers associated with NPS or so called legal highs, which can contain extremely harmful and dangerous chemicals. I would encourage the public not to take NPS.” During the national day of action on NPS, Police Scotland and partner agencies had over 350 officers and staff carrying out operational and preventative activity aimed at communities safety.

That saw local divisional officers, coordinated and led by their colleagues from the Specialist Crime Division, Organised Crime Counter Terrorism Unit targeting a total of 58 premises across the country. Help for police came from local Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Health and Safety Europol, National Crime Agency, local NHS boards, British Transport Police, Scottish Police Authority - Forensic Services, HMRC, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and other supportive agencies such as the Angelus Foundation and Scottish Drugs Forum.

The crackdown came after an investigation by National Records of Scotland found NPS present in 113 deaths in 2013, compared with 47 in 2012.

Another investigation, this time by the Centre for Social Justice, found the number of UK deaths linked to legal highs could overtake those linked to heroin by 2016. The campaign is aimed at youngsters aged 11-18 and their key influencers, such as parents and teachers. It also targets young professionals aged 25-35 years. Nationwide broadcast and poster advertising will highlight the campaign, with digital marketing screens utilised at train stations and on local buses across Scotland.

In addition to this, a range of initiatives are taking place with local community officers visiting schools, youth groups and community events to help raise awareness and educate young people on the dangers of NPS.

Detective Chief Inspector Garry Mitchell, from the Specialist Crime Division, said: “I hope this will make people think twice before buying or taking them. My message is simple – don’t take these substances.

“By taking these you are risking your life, legal doesn’t mean safe, you can never be sure what you are getting or how it will affect you, NPS can contain harmful or toxic chemicals, taking NPS is dangerous in itself – the risks are increased if taken with other substances and or alcohol.

“There is no safe amount or way to take NPS. NPS can kill you, keep safe and do not take NPS” Further information on NPS can be found at www.scotland.police.uk.