Legal ecstasy alternative to be controlled

A CURRENTLY legal narcotic which has replaced ecstasy as a drug used by young people will become a controlled substance by March of next year, according to Minister for Community Affairs Eamon Ó Cuív.

Mr Ó Cuív told the Dáil that the EU had decided benzylpiperazine (BZP) should be made a controlled substance because of its potential for abuse and for “causing significant harm to public health”.

Catherine Byrne (FG, Dublin South-Central), who raised the issue said she was delighted that BZP would become a controlled substance, but said March next year “is somewhat far away, as it [controlled status] will come in much earlier in the UK and other places”.

There are 24 “head shops” in the State which sell so-called “legal high” substances the Minister described as having “effects similar to those of illicit substances but which are currently not scheduled under the misuse of drugs legislation”.

Ms Byrne said parents had “grave concerns” at the activities of these head shops, “particularly regarding the sale of mind-altering substances such as BZP. For many young people going out in the evening, BZP has replaced ecstasy and other drugs that were previously used.”

Recent research by the Health Research Board showed the prevalence of treated drug use among 15- to 64-year-olds rose by 15 per cent between 2001 and 2006.

“The sooner this drug is taken off the shelves the better for everybody, and I ask the Minister to reconsider the timeline and to do this earlier,” Ms Byrne said.

Mr Ó Cuív said he was “always wary of giving deadlines because one is often beaten on a short deadline, while being more likely able to comply with a long deadline.”

He said he shared Ms Byrne’s concern and said “it should be done as soon as possible”. They could take legal action “only against those who break the law, and we must accept this issue on these head shops”, Mr Ó Cuív said.

He added, however, that “the activities of these establishments will continue to be monitored with a view to endeavouring to minimise any risks involved, especially in regard to the potential that the substances involved might have to encourage experimentation with illegal drugs”.