Levels of abuse of new synthetic drugs ‘alarming’

Ireland has one of the worst levels of abuse of new synthetic drugs, according to the European drugs agency.

While the country has limited usage of the substances by banning the drugs and closing headshops, the same powders and pills are now being supplied online and by crime gangs.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said there had been a four-fold jump in the number of online shops selling an increasing array of new substances.