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The head shop debate
Opinion: Let's use our brains.
The debate regarding head shops and legal drugs is one which has been met with a very emotional response from the public over the last while. Admittedly, most of us could tell several devastating stories about people close to us whose lives have been altered or ended by using these drugs, but there are many facts that have not been considered amongst the countless sad stories. With shops selling legal highs opening all over the country and their profits increasing by 20% each month; now is the time for the government to make crucial decisions regarding legislation.
While it’s true that legal highs are widely under-researched and their long-term effects are largely unknown; the banning of substances leads only to the creation of new strains in labs to get around legal loopholes, resulting in the sale of substances we know even less about.
It’s clearly evident that the banning of 'illegal substances' has done very little to prevent widespread usage. In fact, all it has done is forced the drugs trade underground and driven prices up. This creates a completely unregulated industry where profit margins are high for criminals, and the temptation to tamper with the product by cutting it with even more harmful chemicals is huge and reaps enormous financial rewards. Users with addictions find themselves not only breaking the law, but paying huge amounts of money in order to do so (often resulting in crime), and frequently using products with dangerous contents and of unknown strength.
Deaths and injuries are often cited as a reason to outlaw head shops, but, by the same logic alcohol should have been banned long ago. Just one confirmed death has taken place in the whole of Europe where mephedrone (a legal high) was cited as a possible cause, compared to 1 in 25 deaths in Europe per year, which are linked to alcohol usage.
As it stands, head shops are evident on main streets throughout the country. Unlike illegal dealers, they rent premises, they employ staff and they pay taxes.
This head shop issue actually creates an opportunity for politicians to re-examine the drugs trade in Ireland and address the numerous issues presented by drug abuse throughout the country.
Those inclined to experiment with substances will do so; whether legal or not, and the benefits of having the ability to buy from a reputable and government regulated location are numerous. Customers can return to the premises with any grievances and to report problems or bad experiences; the salesperson then has the opportunity to pass this information onto future clients.
Legal highs are packaged, labelled with information and list active ingredients so you know exactly what it is you're taking. At the very least, you are guaranteed its strength and quality. In addition to this, responsible head shop owners often actually offer advice, if you've never tried something before, they'll educate you on how to take it: what to expect, tell you to have someone sober around, to drink lots of water or to avoid alcohol.
Obviously it’s up to the individual whether they chose to take this advice or not, but when choosing between having the information and taking a completely foreign substance, I know what I’d go for.
The creation of the 'Irish Head Shop Association' is a step in the right direction as currently they don’t necessarily need to be regulated, (which can allow rogue businessmen to target the underage, drunk or high) and proves that there are those out there who can manage to take legal substances in a controlled and responsible manner.
We should be tackling our nation’s enormous alcohol problem, not complaining about head shops on Liveline.
By: Rachel Lally
