Larne father’s trick or treat legal high fear

Craigyhill man Stephen McKee, who lives in Cairngorm Walk, found the full packet of Md or Magic Dragon in Glenfarm Place.

The father-of-two told the Times: “In the shops there are Halloween sweets and these green and pink packets look similar to popping candy, so kids might mistake them for sweets when they see them lying on the street.

“If they are out trick or treating they might think another kid has dropped it and pick it up to eat. Even if a parent takes their eyes off their kid for a second they could pick it up.”

Before destroying the sachet, Stephen posted a photograph on social media to warn other parents of the dangers. The post has since been shared by nearly 200 concerned residents.

“This isn’t the first time I have found a legal high sachet, I had previously found a packet of Pink Panther months ago which was open but still had leftovers in it,” he continued.

“We used to find sachets blowing down from Craigyhill Park when the Dunluce Street hydroponics store was open but it seemed to stop when the shop closed so I was surprised to find this.”

Stephen says he was particularly concerned to find the legal high sachet as the area is popular with young families.

“I have two kids aged three and six who play on the street and if kids go out to play or to the ice cream man and find that lying there it doesn’t bear thinking about. Other people on the street were disgusted. The kids have been told again not to pick anything up.”

The local father is now warning other parents to be on the lookout.

“It shows that even though the head shop is closed, we have to be vigilant and I’m urging parents to be on their guard in the run up to Halloween,” he concluded.

Secretary of Preventing Addiction Larne (PAL) Beverly Sharples told the Larne Times that the issue of legal highs hasn’t gone away.

“If you just walk around the town you can see they empty bags lying about,” she stated.

“Kids wouldn’t realise it isn’t sweets. I’m urging parents to be vigilant and to warn kids not to eat anything they find. If anyone finds legal highs lying about I would advise them to destroy them or give it to the police or PAL to be destroyed,” she concluded.