Latest news with #HSEHAS
The Journal
7 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
HSE warns of dangers of new 'designer drugs' in circulation ahead of festival season
THE HSE HAS warned of the dangers of new 'designer drugs' ahead of festival season, as over a quarter of ecstasy pills tested in 2024 had more than twice the typical adult dose of MDMA. The HSE said that new types of ketamine are also appearing in Ireland, and are a cause of concern; these are known as ketamine analogues, or designer drugs. 'Ketamine is a drug that can make you feel disconnected from your body and surroundings. It can cause feelings of detachment and hallucinations which could create extra risks at festivals. These new types of drugs pose significantly higher risks, especially if combined with other drugs,' a HSE spokesperson said. They added that these designer drugs are designed to 'mimic' ketamine but the effects they cause can be much stronger and unpredictable. 'You can't tell what is in a powder just by looking at it, and even a small amount could have serious health effects,' the spokesperson said. The HSE National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services, Professor Eamon Keenan, said that it is safer for people not to use drugs at all. 'It is a concerning time as risks are increasing as a result of drug market changes, with new drugs starting to appear across european markets which can have unpredictable effects,' he said. Advertisement Professor Keenan said people should be aware of the signs of an emergency and should not delay in getting help for themselves or others if it is needed. A club drug emergency can start as someone having a high temperature, a headache or migraine, a general feeling of being unwell, confusion, anxiety, or pains in your arms, legs, or shins. The HSE advises that when people are using drugs, they avoid doing more than one type of drug at a time – which includes mixing drugs with alcohol or prescription medications such as antidepressants that work on serotonin levels. The advice is to make sure you are with people you know and that no one is left alone, and to never assume that one pill equals one dose, as this may not be the case, and it could be too much for your body to handle. HSE advice states that you should 'start low and go very slow', which means taking a small test dose. 'Pace yourself by taking a small amount and leaving time between use, which can help you identify how you are reacting to the substance. If you don't react how you expected, avoid taking any more,' a spokesperson said. The main advice is that if you are in doubt about how you are feeling, get checked out. 'Chat with medics on site at events if you are concerned, don't delay in getting medical help if you are concerned about a reaction: medics are your mates, and your wellbeing is the main priority,' a spokesperson said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
HSE issues warning over three types of vape wrongly labelled as having no nicotine
The three vape products that the HSE has issued a warning about. HSE HSE THE HSE HAS issued a warning about three e-cigarette products that have been wrongly labelled as containing no nicotine. The health service said the three vapes were found to contain nicotine at concentrations of 18.0 mg/ml to 19.0 mg/ml after an analysis was carried out by the State Laboratory. The products involved are: The Crystal Bling 6000+ puffs – Sub-brand (flavour): 5G HRTP Blue Razz Lemonade, Batch No. THE240801 McKesse MK Bar 7000 – Sub-brand (flavour): Passionfruit & Lime JNR Crystal Pro Max 5000+ puff – 0% nicotine Sub-brands (flavours): Kiwi Watermelon Ice Batch No. C24H8399-CP5000. Three European product safety alerts have been issued over the products. The HSE has urged people to check the electronic cigarettes they have. If they have any of the products in question, they should stop using them and return them to the shop where they bought them. Advertisement Retailers who have these products must remove them from sale and contact them to provide product and full traceability details. Any retailer who has sold any of the vapes in question must also display a recall notice in a prominent position in their premises, as well as on their website and social media. Dr Maurice Mulcahy, the regional chief environment health officer at the HSE, said that while the nicotine found in the products is below the legal permitted limit of 20 mg/ml, 'it is not what the consumer has been told they contain'. He said the products were also found to have 7.7ml to 9.4ml of nicotine-containing liquid, almost 4 to 5 times the permitted volume of 2ml. 'The HSE National Environmental Health Service, in response to finding non-compliant and unsafe products on the Irish market, will continue to use its legal powers to protect the public up to and including product seizure, product destruction and prosecutions,' Mulcahy said. However, he said that retailers 'play an important role in protecting the consumers of such products from potential harm', adding that they should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers' details before selling them on to consumers. 'Otherwise, they may not only be putting the consumer at risk, they may be breaking the law and making it more difficult to trace and seek the recall and withdrawal of dangerous batches of such products.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
