Children as young as 13 are taking freely available drugs known as ‘legal highs’ that have been blamed for two deaths.

About 600 heroin users are to be given a life-saving antidote in cases of overdoses, under a HSE project aimed at reducing drug deaths.

Families living in terror of drug dealers because of debts owed by their children are being urged to use a new confidential system without fear of repercussions.

The Drugs Minister Roisin Shorthall has said she will be announcing a new strategy to deal with the alcohol problem in Ireland later this year.

THERE is a “significant heroin problem” outside Dublin and substitution treatment is now an “urgent priority”, according to a HSE report.

A PRISON officer caught trying to smuggle a “selection box” of drugs into Mountjoy Prison yesterday also had a second quantity of drugs seized from his car.

DRUGS MINISTER Pat Carey has insisted the Government was “determined to deal” with the spread of heroin across the country.

THE country is experiencing a gangland and drugs crisis, with entire communities facing intimidation on a regular basis, a major drugs conference has heard.

THE damage caused by head shop drugs is likely to get worse as a “second wave” looks set to hit the country, an emergency consultant has warned.

DARREN BALFE said he didn’t have to act much to play a drug addict casually traumatising ordinary people by robbing them on the street.

THE United States has “ended its war on drugs” and is now moving its focus to prevention and treatment, the US drugs chief has told top Irish drug officials.

THE Government’s Drugs Minister said the head shop industry had the “best legal representation that money can buy” and will certainly challenge planned laws to put them out of business.

LEGAL alternatives to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy will no longer be sold in head shops from June onwards, the Government confirmed yesterday.

A range of 'legal highs' available to purchase over the counter in 'head shops' are due to be banned from next month.

THE number of calls made to the “Dial to stop drug dealing” confidential phoneline has fallen, despite the project being extended.

THE owner of a store selling so-called legal highs yesterday claimed his head shop had been burned down in an arson attack.

The drugs minister today demanded immediate action to ban legal highs being sold in so-called “head shops”.

Drugs Minister John Curran says he is very concerned about rising cannabis use among children in Ireland.

The Drugs Minister says the Government will have to listen to the public's concerns over the new medical card scheme.

DRUGS strategy minister Pat Carey yesterday said he was “very concerned” at the sharp rise in cocaine use and said action was being taken.

The new Drugs Minister says more needs to be done to tackle the deadly 'cocktail' of drug and alcohol abuse.

MOVES to register pay-as-you-go mobile phone users were condemned as sinister and unworkable by civil liberties campaigners last night.

DRUG treatment substantially reduces drug use, drug dealing and criminal activity, according to a major study.

A PROPOSAL by Drugs Minister Noel Ahern that prisoners be allowed to use needles in jail is a “recipe for disaster”, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said yesterday.