Fears over impact of HHC on Mayo teenagers after 'harrowing case'

Fears have been articulated over the adfvarse health impact on Mayo teenagers from HHC, a legal semisynthetic cannabinoid.

It is being sold legally in the Ireland.

Deputy Paul Lawless revealed 'a harrowing case' of a young teenager who consumed the drug not realising how dangerous it was because it was so freely and readily available.

The Mayo TD elaborated: "It ruined his life. He had to withdraw from school to try to get himself off HHC.

"The fact is that it is sold in vape shops throughout the country. It is sold with sweets.

"Very often these shops smell like bubblegum and cotton candy.

"It is a fact that these companies are purposely targeting children with vapes and HHC.

"We need action to address this. We need to ensure HHC is regulated."

Deputy Lawless raised his concerns with Tanáiste Simon Harris.

He told him: "We also need to ensure that companies can no longer target children with vape shops and lovely beautiful and smells.

"It is absolutely wrong. We need cross-party support. We need to address this."

Minister Harris said there is a proposed public health nicotine inhaling products Bill which will contain a range of measures to reduce youth use of nicotine inhaling products such as vapes, a ban on point-of-sale displays and advertising, a ban on devices resembling toys and games, restrictions on flavours for sale, requirements for only basic flavour names to be used, and a complete ban on disposable vapes.

"I may ask in the context of the points Deputy has made that the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer give us a view on it, and Deputy Lawless will have a chance as the legislation progresses to pursue it," he added.