A coronor has warned of the dangers of head shops after the first death linked directly to the use of so-called "legal highs" came before the coroner’s court.
Last November, 19-year-old student Laura Hayes was found dead in her bed. A toxicology report discovered she had a cocktail of prescription drugs, heroin and the then legal drug mephedrone, an amphetamine and butylone, a psychedelic substance, in her system.
Professor Denis Cusack at Kildare Coroner’s Court said the cause of death was "multiple toxicity" and it was the first time a death to which head shop drugs had contributed had come before a coroner’s court.
Prof Cusack said there were "very clear dangers" around head shop products as the compounds were unknown and it was not known how they would react with other substances.
He issued a stark warning to people who use "legal highs" and adjourned the inquest pending a criminal investigation.
Mephedrone and butylone were part of a comprehensive ban on head shop products, which are known to have caused illness and psychotic episodes. However, other synthesised chemicals outside the ban are still sold. The latest legal drug to hit the streets and which is causing concern is a product called Whack.
Earlier this month, 40 reports of severe adverse reactions to the substance were received by the National Poisons Information Centre.
Users of the product had suffered such symptoms as increased heart and breathing rates, raised blood pressure and anxiety.
A spokesman for the centre said since then, there had been a further nine reports about the substance. He said there had been a few other calls in relation to other products, but nothing like the surge in calls in relation to whack which he said had "come out of nowhere".
Defence solicitor at the children’s court in Dublin Gareth Noble said since the clampdown on head shop products there had not been as many young people coming before the court for related crimes.
Source: Jennifer Hough, The Irish Examiner, 22/06/2010
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
