Hysteria over legal highs putting lives at risk

McCann recounts that Derryman Ray Coyle was shot three times by a group called Republican Action Against Drugs in his shop in Derry for selling “legal highs”, prompting street protests against the group. He unashamedly describes Ray Coyle as his friend.

Our columnist is adamantly opposed to the demonisation of what are called ‘legal highs’ and to the widespread campaign against headshops.

“Hysteria about drugs – and recently about legal highs in particular – makes rational discussion impossible,” he says in an article that should stir a wider debate. “From Prime Time to the Sun to every ‘phone-in programme polluting the airways, dangerous, ignorant opinions are presented every day as high-minded concern for young people. Unrepentant Provisionalism combines with moral frenzy to create the conditions in which low-lifes can believe they have a mandate for maiming and murder.”

See Eamonn McCann's full column in the new issue out Hot Press.