Gardaí warn college freshers of the dangers of recreational drug use
Gardaí are appealing to students starting college and university this week to avoid the harmful consequences of drug misuse.
As part of their ‘Campus Watch’ programme, gardaí today launched their #Riseabovetheinfluence drug awareness campaign highlighting the risks of recreational drugs as well as the “anxiety, addiction and psychosis” taking sleeping pills or unprescribed “study drugs” can lead to.
According to the HRB (Health Research Board) National Drugs Library, 674 people under the age of 18 entered drug treatment programmes last year — the majority used cannabis as their main problem drug.
A further 1,874 people aged between 18 and 24 entered drug treatment, with 61% of these admitting to using more than one drug.
“Freshers’ Week should be a time for celebration, the beginning of something good in your life,” said Detective Superintendent Sé McCormack of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
Source: The Irish Examiner; accessed online www.irishexaminer.com on September 30th 2021
