Doctor: More head shop users seeking psychiatric help

There has been a marked increase in the numbers of young people seeking help after using head shop products, according to a Dublin psychiatrict.

Dr Bobby Smyth, who works at the HSE Youth Drug and Alcohol service in Tallaght, said numbers presenting there with head shop-related problems had increased from 1% of his patients in 2008 to 7% last year and could top 20% this year.

Head shops sell synthetic drugs, some of which minic the high achieved from the use of cannabis.

However, these drugs are more potent and don't contain the anti-psychotic chemicals also present in the plant.