Education programmes in secondary schools may be the key to fighting the growing popularity of “head shops” in towns and cities throughout the country, according to former mayor Cllr Padraig Conneely.
His comments came as local TD Frank Fahey revealed the Government is drafting new regulations this month - which are expected to be introduced by the summer - to control a range of substances available in these outlets which sell so-called “legal highs”.
Cllr Conneely, who is the chairperson of the HSE West’s regional health forum, said there is growing concern about these shops which legally sell recreational drugs.
“Everybody is talking about them. They are of special concern to parents of young people. But parents cannot keep a 24 hour eye on them. When young people have drink taken there is a tendency for some of them to go to these head shops.
“Someone somewhere must bite the bullet and make a decision on their code of operation. I feel the HSE and the Department of Health should take a lead.
“Schools could play a very important role in educating students about the dangers involved. That’s where it has to start before students get out the door of second level. They should be well versed about the dangers of the outside world, of drink and drugs. I believe early intervention is great in anything. If you succeed even with a few you are doing well. Young people tend to hunt in packs. If you can influence some of them others will follow.”
Fianna Fail deputy Frank Fahey stated head-shops are an issue of “serious concern” for the Government.
“An inter-departmental approach has being taken to identify what options are available. It is hoped that new legislation to regulate the area will be introduced by the summer. The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, and the Minister with Responsibility for Drugs Strategy, John Curran, have both been very clear in relation to their concern about headshops. They are both concerned about the growing presence of the shops and the products they sell, and they are working towards the most appropriate and comprehensive response to counter the potential threats of these shops. Minister Curran said that he does not want to see the types of products sold by head shops available to buy in Ireland. He said they pose ‘an unnecessary risk’.”
Deputy Fahey said people may not know the “true damage” these outlets are doing for years.
“Serious concerns have been raised with me by parents and health professionals about the long term effect that the products sold in these shops can have. It is simply not right that you can drive down a main street in any town or city in Ireland and see shops advertising ‘seeds’ akin to cannabis seeds or ‘snow’, which a common nickname for cocaine. As a parent, it is worrying to think that young children can walk into a head shop and buy these products with ease and with no knowledge of the potential dangers as the legal tag insinuates that the product is safe.
“Awareness must continue to be raised about the dangers these substances pose to people’s health and I welcome the comments by health professionals recently about their experiences treating patients who have had side effects from using them. Young people should not be led to believe that they are harmless alternatives to illegal drugs.”
