Drug trend updates and warnings
We will keep this section updated with relevant local and European trends of concern. We will also store HSE advisory notices and warnings when they are issued.
Irish updates and warnings 2024
- Benzodiazepine Risk Communication for service providers, April 2024. This communication highlights concern for New Psychoactive Substances being sold as counterfit tablets on the Irish market. Download here
- Nitazene alert for the prison setting, March 2024: The HSE extended a Red Alert to Irish Prison settings following a small number of related overdoses. Find out more here
- Nitazene alert regarding new batches of powder, February 2024: Find out more here
- On-going concern for synthetic cannabinoids sold as herbal, vape and edible products. Learn about synthetic cannabinoids here.
Irish updates and warnings 2023
- Nitazene alert for people who use heroin, November 2023: HSE Press release: Nitazenes detected in heroin samples related to Dublin Overdose cluster
- Festival alerts, October 2023: Results from HSE Safer Nightlife Programme
- Alerts from Life Festival, May 2023: Information on ketamine, cocaine and an MDMA pill
- Synthetic cannabinoid alert for edibles products January 2023: HSE risk communication on the adulteration of cannabis jellies with synthetic cannabinoids
Irish updates and drug warnings 2022
- Alerts from Electric Picnic, September 2022: Updates from 'back of house' drug monitoring at Electric Picnic 2022
- MDMA update, February 2022: MDMA trends update
Harm reduction
Get harm reduction on our site here.