Carmarthenshire County Council backs calls for legislation on ‘Legal Highs’

Carmarthenshire councillors are standing united against the scourge of ‘legal highs’, agreeing unanimously at this week’s Full Council to call on the UK government to make them illegal.

A notice of motion was put forward by Cllr John James of Burry Port, drawing attention to a recent Welsh Government Health and Social Care Committee report on tackling new psychoactive substances (NPS).

Cllr James said the Committee had found that NPS, or legal highs as they are more commonly called, are commonly marketed as safer and legal alternatives to illegal drugs, despite the fact that they can be as addictive and dangerous as illegal drugs – with some drug users noting that their side effects can be worse than heroin and cocaine.

His motion, agreed unanimously by all council members, continued: “The health and social harms caused by NPS use are worrying, and practical steps need to be taken to allow people to make more informed decisions about using these substances. Schools and colleges must play a part in improving education on substance misuse, along with increased public awareness, and better treatment services in order to ensure that the number of NPS users in Wales is reduced. We call upon the UK Government to introduce legislation to make legal highs and any similar derivatives illegal. Furthermore, to give new or amended powers to the police and local authorities to enforce the new or amended legislation.”

Independent group leader Cllr Pam Palmer, who is executive board member for community safety, told council that she was working with police to look at measures which could be introduced in Carmarthenshire; and Cllr Jeff Edmunds, leader of the Labour group, said that the council should look at underlying social issues that lead to people taking psychoactive substances.

Speaking after the meeting, council Leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole, said: “This issue formed part of the Queen’s Speech, and is something the UK Government has committed to legislate on. I was pleased to see cross party support for it in the council chamber, but from my point of view, education is crucial – we need to educate people about the risks of these drugs and I will be looking to make sure we do that.”

• View the debate online. Visit http://www.carmarthenshire.public-i.tv/ where an archive of Tuesday’s meeting will be available within 24 hours of broadcast, along with the relevant agenda papers.