A couple of weeks ago I spoke about education, and how we should educate ourselves before jumping to conclusions.
Well this week I was lucky enough to be present for a presentation by the Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force. The presentation, though general, quickly showed the efforts being made being done my the task force, and certainly opened by eyes to the workings of the HSE and MRDTF.
As with many organisations funding is slow at the moment, but saying that the team seem to be working well with what they have. The main aim of the MRDTF is in the research, development, implementation and monitoring of a co-ordinated response to illicit drug use in the Midlands. A main part of the task force is prevention through education and awareness, something which we’re all seeing at the moment. This year the HSE and task forces are coming together to highlight the dangers associated with head shops. Last year all their efforts went on educating people about cocaine.
Their campaign has taken off quickly, when you think about it, head shops are in every town and visible to us all. There are also huge questions over the legality of the products on sale as well as their liability for VAT and taxes. This issue is going no where fast. Politicians from all sectors and levels are jumping on the bandwagon.
One thing I do find funny about the head shop debate is all these aging politicians shouting their opinion from the roof tops, while really we should listen to those in the task forces and experts in Merchant’s Quay. After all, as was clear from their presentation during the week, they have seen at first hand what the effects of these drugs can have.
From those injecting bath salts available in head shops to recovering drug addicts slipping back into bad habits thanks to legal highs, the shocking truth is out there. No doubt throughout the HSE campaign we’ll be hearing more head shop horror stories. But one thing is important, when forming an opinion, ignore the politicians, it’s those on the front line that really know what’s going on.
