Labour calls for urgent public campaign on HHC vapes
Labour calls for urgent public campaign on HHC vapes - The Labour Party
- Despite warnings of the risk of serious harm to mental health, HSE confirmed in recent response to a parliamentary question that there are no plans for HHC prevention or awareness raising campaigns.
- College of Psychiatrists in Ireland warn that there are reports of many HHC-induced psychosis in Ireland and HHC has been reported as a drug of concern by the HSE.
- Government confirm plan to list as a schedule one controlled drug; however, Minister must go further than legislating and introduce public awareness campaign.
- HHC taken by 20% of young people who seek the help of addiction services in Ireland.
- HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol), semi-synthetic cannabinoid, is currently unregulated and freely available in shops and online.
Labour Spokesperson on Health and TD for Dublin Central, Marie Sherlock, has called on the Government to urgently introduce a targeted public information campaign, particularly targeted at parents and young people, on the serious dangers to mental health from HHC vapes.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“I am alarmed that the HSE has confirmed to me that it has not developed, nor is it planning to develop, any HHC vape prevention or awareness raising campaign for parents and young people. This is despite warnings raised by adolescent addiction services, the College of Psychiatrists, and the HSE itself on the dangers of HHC.
“Many parents, youth workers, youth organisations, and psychiatrists are deeply concerned about the availability of HHC products to young people. We know from recent work by the College of Psychiatrists in Ireland that HHC has been taken by 20% of young people who seek the help of addiction services in Ireland. They report that this drug was not available before 2022.
“Worryingly, we are now seeing people presenting to hospitals and services with severe, HHC-induced psychosis because of HHC use. There are serious short- and long-term impacts that HHC can have on people, particularly on young people’s mental health. Parents and young people must be made aware of these.
“Despite these warnings, there is no public information campaign or targeted campaigns in schools. This is shocking given that this is an emerging public health threat to the mental health of our young people.
“One in five young people are vaping in Ireland, more broadly. We know that vape packaging and flavoring, much like HHC vapes, is attractive and this needs to be addressed urgently too. We must work to prevent more young people from using HHC vapes.
“The Minister recently confirmed to me in a parliamentary question that legislation has been drafted to include HHC as a Schedule 1 controlled drug. However, the Government must go beyond simply legislating, given the concerns regarding the serious risk of harm from this drug.
“The Minister must urgently request and fund a public information campaign on HHC vapes, targeted at young people and parents, including in youth services and schools, to increase knowledge of the potentially extreme mental health dangers of HHC use, given its rapid prevalence in Ireland.”
Notes for editor:
Response from question to the Minister regarding HHC: Substance Misuse – Thursday, 6 Mar 2025 – Parliamentary Questions (34th Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas
Additional response from a question to the Minister: Health Promotion – Tuesday, 13 May 2025 – Parliamentary Questions (34th Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas
HHC Information Guide: HHC-Information-Leaflet.pdf
HSE Website Vaping: Vaping and young people – HSE.ie