Le’aufa’amulia Asenati

Lole-Taylor MP

Spokesperson for Social Policy

31 January 2014

Legal Highs Culture Becoming Embedded

New Zealand First is worried that a culture of synthetic drug taking is becoming embedded in the country, says spokesperson for Welfare and Social Policy Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor.

“While we recognise the new law on psychoactive substances reduced the number of products and outlets selling synthetic substances, commonly known as legal highs, we are warning the Government not to become complacent.

“The law did not reduce the demand. As more people are attracted to taking these substances more Kiwi children will be exposed in their homes.

“Our greatest concern is that not enough attention has been paid to the wider community being caught up in this new drug taking culture.

“The number of people buying legal highs is growing daily, as can be seen by the ever increasing queues outside a legal high shop in East Tamaki Road in Manukau.

“New Zealand First is also calling for more controls and more monitoring around legal high shops to curb abusive and unruly behaviour.

“Businesses and shoppers are being subjected to unpleasantness, name calling and foul language near shops. Passersby are being verbally abused for no apparent reason,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

ENDS

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