HSE issues new drugs warning after horrifying scenes at Cork house party
The HSE has today issued a new warning about possible contaminated ‘party pills’ after a number of people in Cork became ill after taking drugs.
An 18-year-old boy remains in a serious condition in hospital after taking a psychoactive substance on Monday night.
The HSE has extended its warning - specifically to the "2C" family of psychoactive drugs.
The designer drugs, including 2CB, 2CP and 2Cl, and its derivative 25I-NBOMe.
The drugs are also known by their street names which include N Bombs, Smiles, Solaris, 25-I, INB-Meo, and Cimbi-5.
They are sold in liquid, powder and tablet forms, and can have serious side effects.
Six people who are thought to have taken the drugs at a house party in Cork on Monday night were hospitalised, with one still in a serious condition.
A 29-year-old arrested in connection with supplying the drug was questioned and released by gardaí.
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The HSE is reminding young people that there is no way of checking the purity or indeed content of these drugs.
"It is generally reported that these drugs can have serious side effects both from a psychological and physical viewpoint," the HSE warning stated.
"Such side effects include paranoia, hallucinations (both auditory and visual), gastrointestinal effects and kidney problems.
"Young people are advised that there is no quality control on these drugs.
"There are problems with purity and contaminants, and there is no way of checking that what is purchased or consumed is the intended substance.
"Given the serious side-effects experienced by the young people in Cork, the HSE Addiction services are issuing a warning about possible contaminated ‘party pills’ and advise people not to consume any unknown substances that they are offered at this time.
If you have concerns around drug use please contact the confidential HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline at freephone 1800 459 459."
