A new head shop drug has resulted in at least seven cases of severe psychotic episodes in the past 10 days, the Health Service Executive has warned.
At least 40 severe adverse reactions to the substance “whack” have been received by the National Poisons Information Centre in recent days.
In a statement last evening, the HSE advises the public not to try the “dangerous drug” which has caused some cases of psychosis which have been difficult to treat.
Users have suffered a range of symptoms, including increased heart and breathing rates, raised blood pressure and anxiety.
Young men in their 20s accounted for most of the cases seen by GPs and emergency doctors. About half of the reports came from people living in the midwest.
The sale or supply of substances with psychoactive effects for human consumption is to become a criminal offence under a proposed Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill.