The HSE urges caution about drug users taking a brown powder substance in the Cork area known to contain Methylenedioxy-N-Methylamphetamine (MDMA), also know as 'Ecstasy', and Para-Methoxy-N-methylamphetamine (PMMA).

Health professionals are asked to be vigilant in relation to a brown powder substance in the Cork area known to contain MDMA and PMMA and the public are advised that the misuse of drugs carries serious health risks particularly when other drugs including alcohol are taken in combination.

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Drugs.ie will shortly house a new National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Services. The new directory will replace our existing service directory.

Inclusion in the directory is though a self-registration process. Our hope is that all addiction and support services (community, voluntary & statutory) in Ireland will register and manage their information on an on-going basis.

For further information on how to register your service, click the link below.

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Feature: Recovery Walk

The Recovery Walk is an international event designed to build awareness and community support around the concept of addiction Recovery.

Established over twenty years ago, this year will be Ireland’s inaugural Recovery Walk, taking place on September 15th in Dublin’s Docklands at Georges Dock and in the CHQ building.

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Presentation entitled: Naloxone: The Welsh Experience, by Ivor Glynn, Director of the Swansea Drug Project.

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The Funky Seomra is an over 18's alcohol and drug free nightclub, running monthly in Dublin since 2008 and seasonally in Galway. It was created by young Irish people to have a viable, sustainable and healthy alternative night out. People of all ages and backgrounds have been attending over the past 3 years with growing attendances.

The Funky Seomra celebrates its 4th birthday with an event in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin, on 22nd September 2012.

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The Health Service Executive launched its National Hepatitis C Strategy on Tuesday 4th September 2012. The strategy provides a framework for a coordinated and integrated response to Hepatitis C in Ireland.

It is estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 people in Ireland are infected with the Hepatitis C virus. There is very effective treatment now available for Hepatitis C, which eliminates the virus in over 50% of cases. However, there is still a need for a coordinated approach to surveillance, treatment and support.

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The HSE has issued an alert to health staff and drug services over fears that heroin contaminated with anthrax may have found its way to Ireland.

The warning was sent out following reports that cases of anthrax have now spread from continental Europe to Scotland

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The latest poll on drugs.ie posed the following question:
Do you support the end of alcohol sponsorship of sport events?

Out of a total of 460 respondents, the results were as follows:

No: 26% (121)
Yes: 66% (301)
Don't know: 8% (38)