Headshop drugs 'for sale online'

Many of the illegal headshop-style drugs, which were banned last year, are still being sold online, according to a new report.

The study by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) found several potentially dangerous substances were being sold as food products online.

Most of the psychoactive drugs formerly on sale in headshops were made illegal under legislation, enacted in May of last year.

Since the legislation came into force, 102 of the 113 outlets in the country have closed.

However, the NACD report - entitled New Psychoactive Substances and the Outlets Supplying Them - found five popular products being sold online, which underwent analysis, all contained illegal drug substances.

The report, which analysed 49 products sourced from Irish headshops and online outlets, found that some 79 per cent of powder substances, 25 per cent of tablet and 33 per cent of capsule products had no ingredients listed.

All of the products purchased in headshops prior to the legislation contained substances that are now illegal. Many users reported negative reactions to using “legal highs” including black outs, the study said.

It noted a lack of consistency between the stated content and actual content of the psychoactive products. “Lack of information on toxicity of new substances increases the possibilities of overdose,” it said.

The report called for a renewed effort to tackle sale of illegal headshop drugs online.

“While the number of headshops decreased significantly as a result of Government action, a challenge still exists in terms of the monitoring of online outlets for the sale and supply of new psychoactive substances,” NACD chairperson Des Corrigan said.

Minister of State at the Department of Health with Special Responsibility for Primary Care, Róisín Shortall, said: “Since the NACD work in this area began, approximately 200 substances have been banned under the Misuse of Drugs regulations.

“The number of headshops dropped from 102 early in 2010 to 11. While this represents huge progress in respect of availability and consumption of new psychoactive substances in Ireland, such substances continue to pose dangers, particularly to young people, through internet sales.

Ms Shortall said she intended to take all necessary steps to minimise the risks to young people.