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Off their heads

Friday, 05 February 2010

A LOCAL drugs service in Finglas says it’s dealing with a surge in drug users needing help after taking products bought in so-called ‘head shops’. The Finglas Addiction Support Team (FAST) has had to offer help and therapy to people who have used ‘legal highs’, which users have described as being far more potent than any illegal drugs they’ve taken. The worrying development was revealed in a week when the Government came under increased pressure to ban shops, such as those in Finglas, Phibsboro, Drumcondra and the inner city, that are selling herbal and synthetic products. FAST, which provides information, support and counselling to those affected by drugs, has seen an increase in people reporting psychosis and complete memory loss after taking readily available legal highs. “Some of the people who’ve come to us have said that the side effects are worse than anything they’d ever experienced before,” a FAST spokesperson told Northside People. “The serious side effects to the pills, powders and other substances that are for sale in the shops includes severe mood swings, anxiousness, psychosis, complete memory loss and blackouts. “These so-called legal highs are often being used as a substitute to illegal drugs as they are cheaper, more readily available and can often be as strong as anything that can be bought on the streets. “We are certainly very concerned about the effects particularly after the people we have seen who used the products.” According to the spokesperson, some local parents have contacted the service seeking advice after their children took the products. “Young people who might never have thought of taking anything like this are more inclined to experiment now that the products can be bought with their pocket money,” she explained. “Parents are coming to us after seeing their children coming home stoned and completely out of it and they suspect that it’s as a result of these legal highs. “To be honest, these types of stores are not targeting one particular age group because they are so accessible to young  adults of all ages who think the products are above board because they are sold in a shop instead of on the street. “Some adults and business professionals are even dabbling in the legal highs because they think they take the edge off a rough day or week.” FAST is one of many groups that is calling for tighter legislation to clamp down on these head shops. “These shops don’t service the community in any positive way and they are contributing to the drug problem in the area.” Last November, Northside People reported on the controversial opening of ‘Head Candy’ in the heart of Finglas. The opening of the shop, which specialises in ‘herbal highs’, smoking pipes, bongs, weighing scales and ‘imitation’ drugs, sparked outrage among the local community. While there is no suggestion that the business is in breach of any laws, many local people feel that the shop is inappropriate. Local councillor Dessie Ellis (SF) said the community is still outraged and continues to call for the closure of these types of stores. “There is no doubt that these stores are adding to the already worrying drug problem in the area.”