Scourge of hippy high

LEGAL highs cost lives. That was the chilling message drummed home in 2016 when the Government banned the pernicious substances.

That crackdown included laughing gas. Inhaled recreationally by the young, and popular with partying footballers, ‘hippy crack’ had a dark side – causing brain damage and death.

But the scourge hasn’t vanished. As the Mail reports, the number abusing nitrous oxide has soared during lockdown, with discarded silver canisters littering our streets and parks.

Now, top pharmacists have demanded a fresh purge. They are right.

Ministers must revisit their loopholeriddled legislation. The drug, used legitimately by dentists and ice cream vans, is ludicrously easy to buy online.

Possession is not illegal, meaning those caught with it escape scot-free. In any case, our feeble police chiefs have made clear they’ll go easy on those sharing the substance with friends. What a deterrent!

Rather than experiencing a short-lived high, those using ‘hippy crack’ must for once fear the full force of the law.