Text: Izzy Copestake
This drug has been widely available in high street shops across Ireland up until now.
Yesterday, the semi-synthetic cannabinoid HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol) was officially classified as an illegal drug in Ireland, following growing concern over its health risks and increasing cases of addiction among young people. HHC is a chemically altered compound that mimics the psychoactive effects of THC, the primary intoxicating component in cannabis. This drug has been widely available in high street shops across Ireland in products such as vapes and edibles, often marketed in colourful packaging and sweet flavours aimed at younger users.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed today that HHC is now listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. This decision now makes it illegal to produce, possess, import, export, sell, or supply any product containing HHC.
Since first being detected in Ireland in 2022, HHC has been linked to multiple cases of hospitalisation and acute psychiatric episodes. Consultant psychiatrist Professor Colin O’Gara warned last year of the drug’s potential to trigger severe psychosis, especially in adolescents and young adults. A recent study from University Hospital Galway found HHC to be the second most common substance among patients presenting with psychosis over a 21-month period.
The College of Psychiatrists and other health experts have consistently called for a ban on the drug, citing serious public health risks. The move to criminalise HHC follows recommendations by both the European Union and the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which identified it, along with 13 other synthetic and semi-synthetic substances, as posing a significant threat to public health.
The HSE operates a confidential freephone Drug and Alcohol Helpline at 1800 459 459 from Monday to Friday between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm or through email at helpline@hse.ie.
The HSE’s website drugs.ie provides comprehensive information and support for people who use drugs and for those around them.
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