Ban on 'legal high' can't come soon enough

LOCAL political and community representatives have welcomed the government's commitment to making mephedrone illegal "within a matter of weeks." However, they say the move to criminalise the substance, which can cause anxiety, paranoia and other side effects, can't come soon enough.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Mar 2010, 17:35 BST
Updated 31st Mar 2010, 15:35 BST

Here's what some of them have had to say on the subject this week...

• Councillor Fraser Agnew, DPP Chairman: "Something has to be done and done urgently. These substances need to be banned, we can't ignore what is happening all around us - too many young people are dying. Legal highs such as mephedrone are too freely available locally and on the internet."

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• Alastair Ross MLA: "Whilst banning these substances will not stop everyone from getting hold of them, it will at least send out a strong message about how dangerous they are, and prevent them from being sold over the counter in many shops across Northern Ireland."

• Councillor Billy Webb: "This drug has been the cause of recent suicides; it is a blight on society and is a nightmare for the parents of young people who use it. I cannot understand why any business owner, given the recent number of suicides and the news of those who have been damaged by this drug, would continue to sell anything so lethal."

• Phil Hamilton, Community Support and Development Partnership, Rathcoole: "This is a loud and clear message to young people about the dangers of mephedrone. Just because this drug can be bought over the counter doesn't mean it's safe - the side effects can be horrific and mind-changing."

Related topics:Northern Ireland