Herbal ecstasy pills openly on sale in Northern Ireland could trap children into a life of increasingly harder, more addictive drugs, an MP warned today.
With authorities in the Republic reportedly set to outlaw the so-called legal highs, Alasdair McDonnell has urged Stormont Ministers to make it an all-Ireland blanket ban.
Mr McDonnell also called for any shops selling the substances to be shut down.
The South Belfast representative and family GP revealed his fears after Minister Pat Carey indicated he may prohibit the sale of herbal ecstasy at alternative lifestyle shops.
The pills can contain a substance benzyl piperazine (BZP) which experts warn may cause heart problems, panic attacks, seizures and impotence if used excessively.
With such potentially serious health risks involved, Dr McDonnell insisted it was time to take them off the shelves.
He said: "I think this is one issue that we can seek agreement with our Southern neighbours on and rid the entire island of this scourge.
"An all-island blanket ban would send out a strong message that these are harmful substances that can cause real damage."
Health chiefs have stressed the manufacture, sale or supply of any legal highs requires appropriate manufacturing, wholesaling or marketing authorisations.
It was following referrals from substances on sale in Northern Ireland earlier this year, that the Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency took the decision that such products containing BZP should be classified as medicines.