New statistics show that more than 3,000 people have been hospitalised for mental and behavioural disorders caused by cannabinoid use.
Hospitalizations in the four-year period from 2018 to 2022, 189 people were treated for poisoning with cannabis products, reports The Mirror.
The shocking statistics have now prompted the HSE to launch an ongoing awareness and education campaign on the dangers of cannabis jelly and related products.
According to the garda, synthetic cannabinoids are relatively new to the market and are more potent than THC.
Packaging may be labeled as containing THC, but this is not always the case, and users may not know what it actually contains or where it comes from.
Fine Gael TD Emmer Higgins said the artificial cannabinoids that may be present in some gummies and sweets pose a serious health risk of concern in Ireland and across Europe.
Deputy Higgins said: “Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds which can be extracted from the cannabis plant and can be used in oil and edible form. The most prominent cannabinoid is referred to as THC, which is responsible for the psychoactive effects commonly associated with cannabis use and results in a euphoric high experienced by users,” reports The Mirror.
“Not all edibles contain natural cannabis elements and can contain a man-made chemical known as synthetic cannabinoids, which are designed to mimic the effect of THC in the body. Synthetic cannabinoids can greatly increase the risks of a drug emergency because they produce more intense adverse effects,” reports The Mirror.
Separate figures provided to Deputy Higgins by the HSE show that between 2018 and 2022 there were 3,277 hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders caused by cannabinoid use. This number increased by 50% from 526 in 2018 to 790 hospitalizations in 2021, with this number slightly decreasing to 658 last year.
At the same time, 189 people were hospitalized for intoxication caused by the use of cannabis products.
“The HSE issued a warning to the public about synthetic cannabinoids appearing in cannabis and THC products,” said Deputy Higgins, reports The Mirror.
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