Health and policing agencies are grappling with “an unprecedented increase” in the number of new synthetic drugs across Europe.
The dizzying array of chemicals pose serious and largely unknown risks to users, with a growing number of toxic reactions leading to hospitalisations and deaths.
Garda sources record a similar trend here, with seizures of many of these substances and incidents of serious harm, including fatalities.
Ireland is different from most of Europe in that it effectively banned the sale of psychoactive drugs in 2010. This resulted in the closure of headshops, significantly reducing consumption, and shifted the trade online and onto the street.
A new report published by the EU drugs agency shows that 101 new psychoactive substances (NPS) were detected by their early warning system last year. This compares to 81 new chemicals in 2013; 73 in 2012; 49 in 2011; and 41 in 2009.
In total, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said it was now monitoring a total of 450 NPS.
Of the 101 new chemicals seized last year, 31 were cathinones, which mimic the effects of amphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy); while 30 were cannabinoids, synthetic chemicals which mimic cannabis.
It said seizure data from law enforcement confirm the growth of this market. “Between 2008 and 2013 there was a seven-fold increase in the number of seizures reported across Europe.”
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 11/03/15
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