IRVINE Welsh says he is "glad he took loads of drugs" and has "absolutely no regrets" as he insists the world does not have a substance problem.

The Trainspotting author, 61, insists he does not have any regrets over his use of narcotics in the past - and says it enhanced his writing and his career.

And he says drug use is always symptomatic of other problems in society - with susbtances simply used to fill gaps in people's lives.

Welsh gave his forthright opinions writing for newly created lads' mag GHQ - which aims to provide '"edgy" content.

He said: "There's always an antecedent for for any phenomenon in our society. It's no different with drugs and all the baggage it carries.

"When asked about this issue, I'm not really sure that there is a drug problem. Drugs tend to be symptomatic of something else. Every time you have a society in transition, there is an epidemic of some kind.

"Our society is in transition now, as capitalism declines from its industrial high and we move into a world where all the technological development is counterintuitive to profits and paid work. Thus there is a tremendous gap in what people can do to progress their lives. Whenever theres a gap, drugs will always be there to fill it.

"In some respects, we ourselves actually justify the very existence of drugs, which are part and parcel of our humanity. Human life is about work and play, about celebration and festival. This, in turn, equals intoxication, which equals drugs. So drugs are ubiquitous across all types of human society, from native cultures to post capitalist ones, and lionized in all religions.

"It's impossible to conceive of what a world without drugs would even look like - music, art, religion and politics probably wouldn't exist as we know them."

He added: "All I can say is that I'm glad I took loads of drugs, and I've absolutely no regrets personally about it at all. It probably gave me an edge as a writer, helping me expand my consciousness and cultural awareness.

"I had loads of great adventures. But I sailed very close to the wind, and ultimately, I'm also very glad that I knew when to stop. It's a young person's game, and best suited to a life when you have scant concept of your mortality. They simply don't work as well after that, and it all becomes diminishing returns.

"You get very tired and sick and it starts to become hard work, just like having a job. And I already have one.

"But a lot of people don't, so drugs are their job. But you dont want to be working all the time. So like most things in life, maybe it is all about moderation."

The Edinburgh scribbler does feel, though, that the "war on drugs" is necessary and helpful.

He acknowledged anti-drug rhetoric is essential in keeping communities intact, but does have some suggestions for a better approach.

He added: "Anyone thats being honest and who has any critical faculties, will see the widespread hypocrisy with mainstream society and its view on drug use. I think the only thing we need more than drugs is a war against drugs.

"Anti-drug hysteria is one of the strongest drugs around. If you could bottle it and sell it, you probably wouldn't need anything else.

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"Without 'wars' on drugs, terror, black people, cops etc, our communities would probably disintegrate rather than slowly tear themselves apart. All that seems to hold our states, and indeed our culture, together now is a sense of some external threat."

He added: "Something that is always discussed is the gateway and easy access drugs - alcohol and prescription drugs. These aren't just gateways to other drugs, but also potentially dangerous drugs in themselves.

"Most people who f**k themselves up with drugs never get past those legal and readily available ones, because they don't really need to do so.

"Something that really needs to be looked into is a more logical approach to the 'war on drugs'. I personally believe that if the effort and money invested in a more relaxed approach to the drug issue, you could really be onto something. I think you have to take the both the state and criminals out of the drug scene and just leave people alone.

"A lot of places have tried more 'liberal' regimes; Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, some US states, have all adopted different but successful experiments in drug legalisation/ decriminalisation.

"It'll happen across the world one day, as it's completely irrational to have a prohibitionist policy on drugs."

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Irvine Welsh glad he took loads of drugs as he insists society does not have a substance problem - The Scottish Sun