The Minister for Primary Care, including responsibility for the drugs strategy, Róisín Shortall T.D., announced today (Tuesday, 4th October, 2011) that the Government has given approval to notify the EU of its intention to make an Order declaring a further range of “legal highs” to be controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.  

In May 2010, approximately 200 substances were placed under the control of under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.  In August 2010 the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 made it a criminal offence to sell substances which have psychoactive effects. Due to these concerted legislative actions, there has been a significant reduction in the number of headshops operating throughout the country, from over 100 to approximately 10.  

“These new substances are dangerous and pose significant health risks for people who use them” the Minister said.  “Following the EU notification period, the Government will bring under control approximately another 60 substances, some of which have been designed specifically so as not to fall outside the Misuse of Drugs Act controls” she added.  


Note for Editors

Under the Technical Standards Directive, it is necessary to notify the EU Commission of proposed legislation which has the potential to involve a restriction on trade.  The Minister has decided that an application should be made to the EU Commission to use an urgency procedure and introduce the legislation as quickly as possible.  If invoking the urgency procedure is accepted by the Commission, it is expected that approval to proceed to introduce controls on the substances will be received from the Commission within approximately 3 weeks rather than a standstill period of 3 months.

The Declaration Order is being made in respect of the following drugs (including any products or preparations containing these drugs):

a. Cathinone substances

b. Naphthylpyrovalerone analogues and related substances

c. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists

d. Dimethocaine & Desethyl dimethocaine

e. Desoxypipradrol

f. Aminotetralins & aminoindans

g. Fluorotropacocaine

h. BromodragonFLY

i. Salvinorin A

j. Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine



ENDS  


 

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Drug Education Workers Forum (DEWF) TRAINING - 27 JUNE 2011

PRESS RELEASE

JUNE 2011 Making a DASH to help

People struggling with drug and alcohol problems now have a new place to go for help and advice since the launch of the Drug & Alcohol Services Helpline (DASH). The helpline offers a first port of call for people whose use of drugs and alcohol may be getting out of hand, or for friends and family who are concerned about a loved one.

The new service was the brainchild of Jessica Mannion, an Assertive Outreach Worker for the Cranmore and Northside communities of Sligo town, who has been working for the past two years with people who have addictions or are at risk of developing addictions to drugs and alcohol. Although Sligo already has some very valuable services that support people with such addictions, the idea of the new helpline was to offer an easy and accessible way to take that first step. 

With funding from the Northwest Regional Drugs Task Force, and support from the Cranmore Co-op and Northside Community Development Partnership, the helpline has already helped a number of people since it's official launch in March. When people call the helpline the DASH team will talk them through the support services available and help them find a route they are most comfortable with. Most of the people who have called the helpline are currently seeing one of the DASH counsellors, while others have been helped in finding other appropriate supports including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics (NA) meetings. DASH also helps family members or friends who are struggling to support their loved ones.

“People struggling with drugs and alcohol, and their families, often suffer in silence. They all know there is a problem but are often too embarrassed to seek help or don't know where to turn. The helpline offers them an anonymous way to take that first step. We don't ask for personal details, we just lend an ear. It really is about helping them take that first step and letting them know the help is there. Our role at DASH is to help and guide people in the right direction, we see ourselves as offering an alternative early intervention that compliments the existing drug and alcohol services already available in Sligo,” explains Jessica Mannion.

The helpline currently runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 5pm: 071 91 47653

For further information on all of the above please call Jessica Mannion on 0851 324187/www.sligooutreachservice.net

Click here for more information legal/illegal highs

Renewed efforts needed to tackle sale of illegal ‘headshop drugs’ online 
 Renewed efforts are needed to tackle the sale of illegal ‘headshop drugs’ on the internet, according to new research from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD).

The NACD study New Psychoactive Substances and the Outlets Supplying Them, released today to coincide with the UN International Day against Drug Abuse, reveals what is contained in various psychoactive products and how they are being supplied. It also makes a series of recommendations to Government. (Full report at www.nacd.ie.)

 A research team from Dublin Institute of Technology undertook the study. Since the study began in early 2010 most of the substances which were openly sold in headshops have been made illegal (since May 2010) and many headshops have closed.

 However, the research found that illegal ‘headshop style’ products (new psychoactive substances) remain available online and some are being sold as food products.

 Róisín Shortall Minister of State at the Department of Health with Special Responsibility for Primary Care stated that “Since the NACD work in this area began, approximately 200 substances have been banned under the Misuse of Drugs regulations.  Also legislation was introduced that made it a criminal offence to sell or supply substances not prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but that have psychoactive effects on humans.  The number of headshops dropped from 102 early in 2010 to 11.  While this respresents huge progress in respect of availability and consumption of new psychoactive substances inIreland, such substances continue to pose dangers, particularly to young people, through internet sales.

 Informed by this research, I intend to take all necessary steps to minimise those risks, utilising interagency co-operation to tackle the issues involved.”

 NACD Chairperson Dr. Des Corrigan highlighted how illegal headshop products continue to be sold online: “While the number of headshops decreased significantly as a result of Government action, a challenge still exists in terms of the monitoring of online outlets for the sale and supply of new psychoactive substances. There are a vast number of online retailers, many of which deliver to Ireland. The report found that while these online products may claim to be ‘legal’, the products which were analysed all contained illegal substances.

 “In order to address this issue efforts could be made to examine existing models to curtail such trading, for example, through the co-operation between the Irish Medicines Board and the Customs authorities to monitor the sale of counterfeit medicines.

 “The NACD also recommends that the Department of Health monitor the emergence of new headshop products and move speedily to ban them.   

 The HSE National Drugs Awareness Campaign take account of user experiences of new psychoactive drugs. Also online campaigns such as, drugs.ie, should highlight the dangers of new psychoactive drugs as identified in the research report.

Ireland should review the proposals for legislation in the UK under which it is proposed to allow for the temporary banning of psychoactive substances while they are being fully assessed for their harmful effects.

Further Information

Ronan Cavanagh, Montague Communications: (01) 830 3116 or (086) 317 9731.

Jemma Hogan, Montague Communications: (01) 830 3116 or (085) 722 9024

 The NACD

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) was established in response to the drug problem to assist in our continued need to improve our knowledge and understanding of problem drug use. The goal of the NACD is to advise the Government on problem drug use in Ireland in relation to prevalence, prevention consequences and treatment based on analysis and interpretation of research findings.

 Research Team

A research team from the Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology undertook the study commissioned by the NACD. The research team are Cathy Kelleher, Rachel Christie, Kevin Lalor, John Fox, Matt Bowden and Cora O’Donnell. Please see a copy of this report on our Downloads section on this website.