HHC Vapes and Edible Products harm teenagers and should be banned, says drug addiction specialist

A leading drug addiction specialist and a teenage and adolescent psychiatrist have expressed concern that the legal product of cannabinoids remains in this country.

HHC is available in Vapes-also known as electronic cigarettes and edible products that can include adhesive bears or cake.

It is a chemically modified or semi -synthetic version of the natural cannabine contained in cannabis, with effects similar to Thc in cannabis plants. It first appeared in Europe in 2022.

Bobby Smith said “May shoulder on Newstalk”, which HHC is used by the “growing minority of young people who seem to buy it with impunity.

“There are zero rules or rules around its content, who can sell it, who can buy it. This is absolutely unregulated. It is sold for the last one and a half years, “he said.

Dr. Smith said he and his colleagues are worried about the fact that HHC is harmed for more than a year.

“My main job is in the services of teenagers. HHC has just begun to act as an integral part of many presentations in our service in 2023.

“At this stage, this is probably in the list of problematic substances about 20, 25 percent of young people who visit the service – and this is the same at the national level. It was very, I think, in the last year or so,” he said.

“Young people visit our services (drug addiction services) because they have lost control of their relationship with any drug they consume. Usually, cannabis. It can be alcohol. But now HHC with frequency increases. We are dealing with HHC dependence more often than, saying

Dr. Smith said drugs should be banned in this country.

“I don’t have a good answer to this (why it’s not forbidden in Ireland). There are two mechanisms by which it could be banned in Ireland. This can simply be added to the drug abuse law that prohibits most other illegal drugs.

“Many European countries have certainly have already taken this step. Another legislative act we have in Ireland is called the law on psychoactive substances; in fact, it is a criminal offense to sell a psychoactive drug – regardless of whether it is listed in this act or not.

“Given that this drug was advertised by sellers as similar consequences for Thc – which is an active drug in cannabis – they advertise it as psychoactive effects, why this legislation was not used, I am not very sure. It is sold in High Street stores.”

Dr. Smith stated that the UN Commission for narcotic drugs is found this week in Vienna, when HHC is one of the issues of the agenda.

“I saw a press release stating that HHC has now been added to the 2nd List of Prohibited Substances. This means that governments that are signed on the UN Convention on Drugs will now require its prohibitions mainly.

“What is disappointed and disappointing is what I thought we were already in Ireland in Ireland,” said Dr. Smith.

“But it has not worked on this, and the lives of young people are damaged. Now it is the second most common cause of drug psychosis in Ireland. So the last year. So the second is cannabis. So again it causes more episodes of psychosis that need to be admitted to hospital.”

D -pm Smith said HHC can disrupt the normal brain development in young people.

“So for some young people who can suggest psychosis. According to the concern that doctors express quite loud during the year. The doctors were not quiet about the problems we see.

“Just the forces that seem to be waiting for someone else to make a solution. It was unpleasant to watch.”

Meanwhile, in February 2024, the representative of Sinn Féin asked the then Minister for the health of Stephen Donnelli for updating legislation concerning the use and supply of HHC -containing products.

Speaking in Daily, Mr Donnelli said HHC was first identified in Europe in May 2022 and was staged under intensive monitoring at the end of this year by the European Center for Drug Monitoring and Addiction (EMCDDA).

“Early warning in Ireland is coordinated by the National EMCDDA focus and early warning, developing working group (EWET), chairmanship of the Ministry of Health. Ewet continues to control the appearance and use of this substance in Ireland.

“HHC has been reported drugs that are concerned about HSE and adolescents. HHC can be found in vaping products. The concern is the potential impact of this substance on the mental health of young people, including a possible connection with psychosis.

“HSE will add the content of HHC to your web site, drugs.

Mr Donnelli said HSE would continue to contact EMCDDA and a group of early warning and EWET (EWET) for the further direction of this substance.

“This is the area that is currently supervised by the EU AGS and the EU Drug Agency as there is limited information about the impact on the health of this substance.”