Zee JLF 2019: War on drugs is war on youth, says Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh

On Day 5 of the Zee Jaipur Literature Fest, we caught up with Irvine Welsh, the author of Trainspotting for an impromptu chat at the press terrace where he gave his views on the failed war on drugs, the universality of his main characters from Trainspotting and his drug of choice now.

On the War on Drugs

Irvine Welsh: There’s no such thing as a war of drugs. There’s a war on youth. You cannot win a war on drugs or terror. These are just mechanism of control. If you eradicate drugs, where will you go?

Why are we scared of drugs?

Irvine Welsh: It’s not about drugs. It’s about terrorising people. It’s about control.

If you could only take one drug for the rest of your life

Irvine Welsh: I need Sedex (sleeping pills) to sleep but it would probably be wine.

How does your book break the space-time barrier?

Irvine Welsh: The characters are universal, so it becomes universal and appeals to people across the spectrum.

Which character are you from Trainspotting?

Irvine Welsh: For a long time, I used to think I was Renton, but I am more Sick Boy, which is horrible. I have been single again for a very long time.

Irvine Welsh is a well-known author best known for his novel Trainspotting which was adapted into a hugely popular film of the same name directed by Danny Boyle starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald. A sequel was released titled T2 was released in 2017.