‘Legal high’ drugs causing psychiatric illness epidemic, says A&E doctor

A LEADING Emergency Department consultant has warned legal drugs, which are replacing cocaine and amphetamines and sold in alternative lifestyle shops, are causing an “epidemic of psychiatric illness”.

Dr Chris Luke, who specialises in emergency medicine at Cork University Hospital, said it seemed as though there was no other solution but to have head shops closed down by hugely increasing their public insurance policy.

“These shops are creating misery, they must be made to pay for the huge problems they are causing to society,” he said.