90s tabloid panic: Magazine sells drug guides at WHSmith, authorities LOSE IT

A vintage newspaper article from what appears to be the 1990s reporting on a scandal where the magazine 'Eternity' sold in WH Smith stores featured a guide to ecstasy. The article references the death of teenager Leah Betts and includes her photograph alongside the magazine cover, discussing police response and calls for the magazine to be banned. Extracted text: WHSMITH SELL GUIDE TO ECSTASY. PROBE: The magazine and (right) Leah Betts. A GUIDE to the killer drug ecstasy has appeared in a magazine sold in High Street stores. Police branded Eternity magazine 'reckless and irresponsible' after discovering it on the shelves of WHI Smith along with teenagers magazines such as Smash Hits. 'Two users tell how they popped hundreds of pills like the ones that killed Essex teenager Leah Betts last week. And in a three-page article headed 'Ecstasy research', the dance magazine prints pictures of ecstasy pills and lists the ingredients. One drug equal officer, Detective Sergeant Simon Orton, of Durham police, said: 'This publication glamorises an illegal substance, and there is a degree of obscenity in that.' Reader Tim Browne, 22, from Newcastle upon Tyne, said: 'I got my copy in WH Smith's in the Eldon Square shopping centre.' Real. 'It was on the racks with other teenage music magazines.' The mother of 16-year-old Leah Hinds, who was killed by drugs in Basildon, said the magazine should be banned. Janet Murphy, 38, from Birtl, Northumberland, added: 'I can't imagine what Leah Bett's parents would think if they saw it.' The magazine, published by Worldwide, New Yorks, reports the experiences of an Dj named Keith. 'Nowadays' Cops slam 'reckless' teenage dance mag. By JOE ROBERTS. ALL in the good sense and judgement of the publisher. A spokesman for WH Smith said: 'We do not act as censors. Very stock magazines people want to buy.' 'We will look at this article and take a view of what that magazine is trying to do and.' Ban. 'And if the company finds the magazine glamorises drug-taking we will consider banning it.' There was no one at the Wakefield offices of Eternity yesterday and editor Paul Boot, 30, could not be reached on his mobile phone. POLICE have raided a major ecstasy factory in Liverpool, seizing drugs with a street value of more than £250,000.