A WORCESTER man, who turned his life around after an addiction to legal highs, says the Government's ban expected to be introduced later this month has come far too late.

At the height of his addiction Mark Timmins, who lives in Bransford Road, said smoking legal high cannabis mamba ended up controlling his life, and it nearly killed him.

The 41-year-old said his addiction started when he was in prison, where he says the synthetic chemical - which imitates the effects of traditional illicit drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy - was easy to get hold of.

"Within two weeks it had a hold on me," the recovering addict said.

"There's an epidemic in prisons as it’s easy to smuggle in, no smell means police dogs don't find it, and it doesn't show up in drug tests."

He said after leaving prison he quickly became "completely addicted".

"I had to have a pack a day, at least every two hours," he said.

"At one point I did not move from my bedroom for six weeks. I'd be asleep for only a couple of hours, then I would wake up sweating, being sick, needing to smoke it.

"The withdrawal symptoms are horrible."

Mr Timmins said he accepts he was no angel, but the addiction picked up in prison has crippled him financially, and damaged his relationship with his parents and daughter.

He said: "It was costing me £600 to £700 a month, sometimes even £1,000. Everything I earned I spent on legal highs.

"I couldn't believe how easy it was to get it over the counter - how can it be that the stuff available to buy legally is stronger than illegal drugs?"

Mr Timmins said the turning point was one morning, around a year ago, when he woke up and was hallucinating.

"I knew if I didn't stop it would kill me," Mr Timmins said.

"I decided I was wasting my life away - I haven't touched it since."

This week the Home Office said the delayed ban on legal highs is expected to come into force on May 26. It is designed to outlaw the trade in legal highs, but does not make their possession, outside prison, a criminal offence.

Mr Timmins said he felt the ban would be "too late for many", but hoped his story will be warning to others not to take legal highs.

"I am lucky I am strong and had the willpower, as well as help from Tracey, my partner who I met last year, and Swanswell (a Worcester drug recovery service).

"Anybody who is weak has got no chance."

• Anyone needing information on drug abuse can call FRANK on 0300 123 6600, or visit talktofrank.com.