LEGAL highs sold on the internet make policing of drugs a near-impossible task, it is claimed.
East Riding Council's substance misuse manager Tony Margetts says the only answer is "for people to start taking responsibility for what they stick up their own noses".
He said: "Things are just coming along too fast to analyse them.
"What we've been doing with drugs in the past, none of that will work very well."
East Riding Council is launching a campaign to highlight the risks of new psychoactive substances.
They are synthetic equivalents of drugs including cocaine and cannabis. The products are not covered by drugs laws and are legal.
Mr Margetts said: "These drugs are marketed as legal substances. It doesn't mean they are safe or approved for people to use. It just means they've not been declared illegal to use and possess."
Dr Tim Allison, director of public health, said: "Many people taking these substances believe that they are taking something safe, since the substances are sold as being legal.
"This misconception is putting the public at risk as these substances are often produced with illegal ingredients.
"Also, as they are not tested we do not know what the long- term side effects of using these substances may be.
"In the short term, many side effects have already been identified, which are harming the health of users."
The council, which has taken over responsibility for public health from the health service, is working with police to combat the problem. But Mr Margetts says he cannot expect police to take the lead combating something not necessarily illegal.
Chief Inspector Steve Burns, who is based at Beverley Police Station, said: "You can never be totally sure what is in either legal highs or illegal drugs, so the only way to avoid falling foul of what can be potentially fatal side effects is to not take drugs.
"The police are still concerned there are individuals out there producing and selling legal, addictive and dangerous drugs available to anyone trying to buy them.
"It's not just illegal drugs that concern the police, but as we are also seeing the emergence of some substances which, although currently classed as legal, can still present health related risks to anyone who takes them.
"We are working to address these concerns but this isn't something we can deal with alone without the help of the public."
Information leaflets and posters will be distributed through East Riding youth service, libraries and customer service centres.
Anyone who would like an appointment to see a drugs worker can contact East Riding Partnership on 01482 344690.
To speak to a Young People's Substance Misuse Worker contact the Youth and Family Support Service Specialist Support Team by email at youth.specialistteam@east riding.gov.uk or call 01482 392200.
Anyone with information about drugs can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
