Victory for anti-legal high campaigners in Angus

Campaigners against the sale of legal high drugs in high street shops have scored a victory in Angus by getting a head shop closed down.

This head shop, located in Arbroath, was called Evape-o-lution. The shop was raided by the police in December 2014, when many thousands of pounds were seized from the owner. Locals who were part of the campaign to close this and other similar shops that sell new psychoactive substances (NPS) have made a pledge to rid the country of the legal high industry.

One of the campaigners, Laura McKay, who lost her brother Michael to a legal high addiction, said: “I’m not afraid it will reopen, as everyone who is involved will do everything they can to get it closed. I myself would be delighted if the shops were all closed, so it’s not so easy for vulnerable people to access the substances ‒ including the youngsters wanting to give it a try.”

The anti-legal high campaign, named Montrose and Arbroath Against Legal Highs, was formed when locals became concerned by the number of head shops opening up in their areas. They believe that the use of legal highs has become a dangerous problem in the UK and one that is continually escalating.

The campaigners have the support of the local area commander for Angus, Chief Inspector Gordon Milne, who has praised the group for its work, stating his belief that the sale of legal highs is “morally reprehensible”.