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THE HSE HAS issued advice for Irish festivalgoers following the deaths of two young people at a UK festival last week.
It is warning young people to think about their health and avoid using drugs if they experience mental or physical health problems.
The BBC reported on Sunday that two people died after falling ill at a festival in Hampshire, England.
People are being asked to look after themselves and look out for their friends during the festival season.
“We are aware that there have been deaths and hospitalisations at festivals in the UK recently associated with the use of illicit drugs. We are also aware that there are high dose batches of ecstasy or MDMA in circulation,” Dr Eamon Keenan, HSE Clinical Lead for Addiction Services said.
“With this in mind as the festival season begins, we want to make people aware of our harm reduction information around drugs. Harm reduction benefits people who use drugs, their families and the community.”
Dr Keenan also issued the following advice:
Tony Duffin, CEO of Ana Liffey Drug Project, added: “Using illicit or unknown drugs always carries risks, and it is safer not to use drugs at all. Recent tragic deaths in the UK highlight this all too clearly.
“We know that it is safest not to use ecstasy or MDMA, but we also know that over the summer some festival-goers will choose to use such drugs. We want everyone who goes to a festival this summer to come home safely.
If you do choose to use drugs – inform yourself first. Harm reduction works, it could save your life or the life of a friend.
In relation to the use of ecstasy and MDMA, the HSE said that it is always safer not to use them, but if someone chooses to do so, to follow the below advice:
Public consultation
The government has launched a public consultation into the possession of illegal drugs for personal use.
The public is being asked its views on how effective current laws are and what alternatives could be considered.
Currently, it is an offence to carry any amount of a banned substance, and people who are caught can face prison sentences depending on the amount and if they have offended before.
The government’s current drug strategy aims to move towards a more health and care-based approach to users. A working group was set up in November and will report back within the year.
People are being asked to fill out a questionnaire on their views on the matter, while a series of Town Hall meetings have been arranged by the Ana Liffey Drug Project.
More information on safe drug use can be found at www.drugs.ie or by calling the HSE Drug Helpline on 1800 459 459.
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People aren’t going to stop taking them, on-site testing facilities would be a forward thinking solution.
@Gav Brosnan: natural selection would be another. Just because society won’t make it legal doesn’t absolve you of responsibility. Ingest unknown substances!! More fool you.
@SFLounyTouny: Gav is advocating a solution to the unknown substances problem.
Would you actually not support safety initiatives for people to test pills but you’d rather say I told you so to the 0.0001% of people who ever have an issue with them?
@SFLounyTouny: yeah I agree, its not smart to take stuff you that you don’t know the contents and source of but people will still do it, a lot of people. Just because its stupid doesn’t mean it wont happen. The risks can always be lessened.
@Gav Brosnan: the risk can be lessened!! The risk can be eliminated completely..dont take them.
@SFLounyTouny: oh that’s that sorted so. Hope everyone caught that.
@SFLounyTouny: you clearly don’t live in the real world.
@Gav Brosnan: yes I do…take unknown substances and risk death..don’t take unknown substance and no risk of death..quite simple.
@sftonylouny
Get in your car risk death, don’t get in your car don’t risk death.
I have to say this is absolutely sound advice from the HSE and it’s good to see a sensible approach taken for once. Obviously the clear message is don’t take drugs but the advice given is 100% correct and relevant. It could save a life
@Coco86: a pill testing station would also help
@John Longmore: Agreed. Might actually turn people off if you new exactly what was in it.
@John Longmore: i believe the legal situation wouldn’t allow them to be handed back, so fairly pointless at the minute
@Coco86: Agreed, it’s good to see them coming around to the type of practical advice that club magazines provided in the 90s. It’s a lonnnnng time since I touched anything but good advice still applies.
2 weeks between sessions seems a little unrealistic for most heads though. And its better to test the batch before, or talk to your friends, as you’re unlikely to show discipline at the start of a session when you’re hyped up. Most people wouldn’t knowingly bring speckled pills to a festival as a sizeable number of folks don’t like tripping or are not cut out for it in large crowds of people they don’t know.
@Julian Friesel: Just give one keep the rest :)
@Rónán O’Suilleabháin: The thoughts of e’s make me gag now man absolutely putrid rotten yokes! But back in the day I did my fair share and looking back now I’m lucky to have made it through those mad teenage early 20′s years! But we all know the risks albeit understand them that bit better as you get older. Hopefully everyone enjoys this year’s festivals and gets home safe,
Don’t take them is also good advice.
@Jalbeardzi, Yup and if you dont, just take a little bit seen how you feel in an hour before you escalate
@Clever Jake: because it is legal, if it was illegal it wouldn’t measure in the list of most deadly drugs.
Let’s hope the yes side come out in as much force on this issue, “women take abortion pills let’s make it safe for them” people take recreational drugs let’s make it safe for them. Legalise and regulate from manufacture to consumer
@Colm Kiernan: we need the Citizens Assembly to get involved here. Where’s Noone when we need her? Probably still hungover from the rave at the castle. #Trustdrugdealers
Perhaps enforcing drug laws would be a start
@Steve1234: They clearly don’t work
@Coco86: They’re not enforced. People used to drink and drive regularly until it was treated seriously and now a lot less people do it as there is more chance of being caught. If the same approach was taken to drugs it would have the same results
@Steve1234: Evidence from every country that has tried this shows it doesn’t work. All you end up with is prisons filled with decent people for minor drug offences.
@Steve1234: Of course they are enforced, have you ever witnessed anybody taking lines off the bar having a pint? No, because it’s illegal people will use the toilets instead! If anything I would say they are enforced too much and you must admit the so called war on drugs is being catastrophically lost. I agree with you on your drink driving comparison but this is not the right approach here IMO. Why criminalise the person with 20 euro worth of MDMA in their pocket when the real problem is at the top of the chain making millions? There will always be a demand for drugs so provide safe substances and make those on top irrelevant
Traditional party drugs like MDMA are quite safe substances, certainly no more dangerous than alcohol and likely safer. Where the danger arises is with adulterated substances, toxic derivatives or substances passed off as something they’re not. This is a result of prohibition and the black market drug trade. If alcohol were illegal, you would see deaths due to methanol poisoning from home brews as is common now in many Islamic countries where alcohol is prohibited. The substances we know to be relatively safe from clinical studies (MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, cannabis etc.) should be regulated and allowed to be openly sold as alcohol is. Dangerous derivatives and the like should still be banned.
Lesson number 1. Know you’re dealer.
@Dj: lesson number 2 “you’re” means “you are”
@Dj: Absolutely I am… You either do it, or you lie and say you don’t do it
@Dj: Question is does your dealer know their dealer and so on. The MDMA or pills the user consumes has passed through so many hands! The best thing is to listen to the advice given above and enjoy yourself, and the buzz!
@Coco86: Well, if you’ve been buying off a dealer for a period of time and it’s good stuff then I don’t see the need to buy some crap off some shifty looking bloke in the public toilets. Just come prepared is all.
@Dj: That’s true I’d sooner go without than risk some filthy crap from a randomer, you seem to think likewise :)
Unfortunately though I would think a lot of people particularly kids wouldn’t see it that way.
@Dj: Lesson No. 47 – Learn to count
@Dj (know your dealer) As if that makes any difference he doesn’t give a toss about you .
Prohibition KILLS
At the same time as an online poll here regarding possession of small amounts of illegal substances.
“Chewing gum can help jaw cramps” – yeah, will help GIVE you jaw cramps! And wreck your stomach. Clearly never did a pill in his life!
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