Bray Drugs Awareness Forum

31/08/2026

- Back to school and open for business -

The schools are back! ... and that means two things for us.

1) The start of our new academic year schools programmes.
2) The launch of the BDAF annual children's art competition.

We will be delivering information about the primary level programme to each school, in the coming week and we will be confirming schedules as soon as responses are received back. The programme is supported by the vast majority of primary schools in the Bray Task Force area and we very much appreciate that support.
Details of our secondary school programme will be circulated to schools, next month.

In the meantime.... the BDAF Art Competition 2026 .... is nowwww (drum roll for effect) ........Open!. The competition is judged in three age categories and it is open to primary and secondary school pupils in the Bray area and/or young people attending youth and community groups and clubs.

The theme is 'positive attitudes and lifestyles for young people' as an alternative to involvement in drink/drug culture. Life is to be enjoyed safely, promote the positive aspects of family support and healthy peer friendships. The competition provides a valuable opportunity for teachers, parents and youth/community workers, to talk to young people about drug/alcohol risks and harms, while they consider and work on, their artwork theme.

See the poster below for full details and good luck!. We look forward to seeing your entries.

A video of winning entries in the 2025 competition, can be viewed on the BDAF YouTube Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSydzG2SXhs

20/08/2026

- From The National Ambulance Service -

Ahead of tomorrow's Leaving Cert results, we're appealing to parents to talk to your child about being sensible when it comes to alcohol, drugs and going out.

While we want everyone to enjoy themselves and the celebrations, it's important to be safe - make sure they've made a plan for getting home, that they know to never drive under the influence, to stay with their friends while out and to call 999 in an emergency, no matter what has happened.

20/08/2026

- Leaving Cert Results -

See below for information about leaving cert results day, from our colleagues at YouthSpin Wicklow.

Leaving Cert results will be out tomorrow at 10.00am

We have complied a useful guide on all aspects of ‘Results Day’ from where to get your results to how to calculate CAO points.

Best of Luck to Everyone https://crosscareyouthinfo.ie/results-day-what-next/

20/08/2026

- Drink Spiking -

'Spiking' is the intentional act of adding alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal substances to another person's drink without their knowledge or consent. In recent years there has also been an increase in reports of 'needle spiking' where substances have been injected directly into people without their knowledge or consent. Drinks spiking is an aspect that we discuss in the 'Staying Safe' final session of our primary school drug and alcohol awareness programme.

The subject is included in our programme because it has arisen as an aspect that pupils have already heard of, either through seeing reports about it on TV or online, or from the relayed experiences of older siblings or relatives.

While it is something that thankfully they probably have no direct experience of, they are quite likely to have confusing and inaccurate information about what 'spiking' actually is and particularly about how someone might know that a drink has been spiked and what action they should take to keep themselves safe. In discussions at primary level, we are taking about someone interfering with a non alcoholic drink at an age appropriate social event (teenage disco or party). Discussion at this age is relevant in view of the fact that they will soon be embarking upon their secondary school journey and they will be expanding their social circles and experiences.

Recent statistics have revealed that a total of 339 cases of drinks spiking were reported to Gardai from 2021 - 2025. This amounts to an average of 67 cases per year, but victim support groups believe that there may actually be more cases that go unreported through victim fear or stigma. One HSE sexual assault treatment unit has said that 209 of the people that they treated suspect that spiking may have been a factor in their assaults. Dr Clíona Saidléar, executive director of R**e Crisis Ireland, said the yearly spiking figure is “very low” compared with the real occurrence of the crime.

Sinn Fein Community Safety Spokesperson , Mark Ward, has called for 'spiking' to be defined in law as a specific offence. Dr Saidléar said that naming spiking as a specific offence may help in increasing public awareness of the issue and may also reduce the fear and perceived stigma that victims might feel about reporting spiking incidences.

The UK Government has recently introduced a specific offence to cover drink and needle spiking through their Crime and Policing Act 2026.

19/08/2026

- Psychiatry expert says that Government action on cannabinoids and their synthetic variants, is 'ineffective' -

The law introduced in 2010 to ban the sale of psychoactive substances for human consumption, has largely been ineffective based on recently published HSE stats of 'test purchases' undertaken in v**e shops and from chemical tests carried out on the products offered for sale, all around the country.

RTE News has reported this morning that out of 76 v**es, v**e juices or edibles (gummies) tested by the HSE laboratory, '28 contained hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), or related synthetic or semi synthetic cannabinoid compounds, while eight contained potent synthetic cannabinoids, and 10 had acetate containing a compound linked to lung disease. 12 tested samples contained cannabis, or related compounds, and 41 contained cannabidiol.'

Speaking on RTE Radio 1 'Morning Ireland', Senior Registrar in Psychiatry at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dr. Brian O'Mahony, said that smoking cannabis can increase the risk of a person developing psychosis by as much as four times and consuming the various synthetic variants that have been detected in tested v**e shops around the country 'increases the risk even further'. The chances of developing long term mental health issues as a result of consuming cannabinoids are also increased with use in teenage years.

Dr. O'Mahony also stated that part of the issue is that 'it takes time and research to identify substances as psychoactive'. This delay in the legal process effectively catching up with developing substance misuse issues, leaves a lucrative loophole that can be exploited by street shops and online suppliers.

The recently published HSE findings about sale of the products to minors and the contents of substances being sold in v**e shops, has resulted in calls for new semi synthetic cannabinoids to be named and banned specifically under the 2010 Psychoactive Substances Act, instead of being covered under a non specific 'blanket coverage' approach as is done at present.

The six minute radio interview with Dr. O'Mahony, can be heard here https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/ad6f2630-74fe-4bca-8706-b4ab008d2f51/

Click below for an RTE News report on the issue, from Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers.

The HSE has said it has identified high-risk cannabinoids in v**es, v**e 'juice' and other products, like edibles, sold in shops and on the illicit market in Ireland.

17/08/2026

- Drugs... What's the next threat ? -

In our world of providing drug and alcohol awareness to young people, parents and youth/community workers will sometimes ask what we can do about a particular current drug threat, or how can we prepare for what might be coming down the line next?

For example, one of the emerging issues on the horizon is Kratom and its synthetic variant 7-OH. The 'legal high' substance that mimics the effect of opioids on the brain, is becoming a serious health issue in America. The substance is a particular risk for young people and like other recently emerging synthetically produced substances, it is not adequately covered by existing substance misuse legislation in America. As with other recent former 'legal high' substances such as HHC and Spice, a new substance may well become established in the Irish market first, before the full protection of the law can be applied. Although the sale of substances for psychoactive use is blanket banned under legislation introduced in 2010, experience since then has shown that there are still issues with relatively open sale and lack of legal enforcement for some substances. This is why we tell young people that they can not rely on governments, laws, shops, social media platform providers, or 'other people', to keep them safe. They must look out for and look after themselves.

The truth is, we can not deal with drug misuse issues on a one by one case basis and the next new threat will be developed and introduced to the market, without giving advance notice to anyone. Even if we are aware in advance of emerging trends elsewhere in America or Europe heading our way, in truth, as a country, Ireland is usually very slow to take action before those trends become established here too. In simple terms, the illicit and recreational drug industries can move and adapt much faster than the legal process.

The best advice we can give parents and youth/community leaders is to prepare our young people to think critically about unsafe information provided to them about drugs (and alcohol) either by friends, or online. They must be given the power of resilience to make healthy life choices and to resist peer pressure if/when it arises.

We can not cover every specific harmful and risky substance that they might encounter, we can not predict what the next online trend, or 'legal high' risk might be ..... but we can empower them to pursue healthy lifestyle and social interests, to value their health and life and to make safe choices.

See the link below for a HSE 'Parent's Guide to Alcohol & Drugs.'

14/08/2026

- V**e 'test purchase' monitoring stats -

In December 2023, an 'over 18' age limit was introduced on v**e products. Up until that point, there was no legally stipulated age limit applying to sale of the devices. Under current legislation, the HSE is the responsible authority for monitoring compliance with the age limit sales requirement.

In 2024, the HSE undertook two hundred and twenty three 'test purchase' inspections across the country and 40 shops were detected as selling to under 18's (18% non compliance). Nineteen premises in Wicklow were checked, with four prosecuted. 'Smart Store' in Bray was fined €3,000, with €1,600 in costs awarded to the HSE. 'Centra' in Greystones also received a €1,500 fine and was ordered to pay €1,400 in costs, and 'Nice to Go' in Bray was fined €1,500 in addition to €1,500 in costs. One other case is still in progress and is currently subject to court appeal.

In the first ten months of 2025, two hundred and twenty four test purchases were undertaken nationwide (20 in Wicklow) and 51 shops were found to be selling to minors (22% non compliance). At the time, the number of v**es shops operating in the country was estimated at 3,300 (exact figures are currently being compiled under a recently introduced retail license system).

Current regulations also specify a 2 milliliter limit on the amount of e-liquid contained in a disposable v**e and a limit on ni****ne strength of no more than 20 milligrams per milliliter. Significant breaches of this regulation were detected, with some v**es on sale containing more liquid than allowed and up to 50% more of the legal ni****ne strength limit. Some v**es labelled as containing no ni****ne, were found to actually contain the substance, in one case up to five times over the legal limit. There were also breaches detected regarding legal requirements for product labeling, including inadequate or no health warnings, and no statement that the products are not suitable for children.

In 2024 and 2025, the HSE 'test purchase' exercise resulted in the seizure of 3,500 illegal v**es. Revenue and border security activities since 2020 have also resulted in the seizure of 427,000 Euros worth of psychoactive drug v**es (containing THC or HHC). In 2026, between January and May, revenue reported 169 seizures with a value of 300,000 Euros. This amount seized in the first five months of 2026 is approximately equal to the 2025 total seizure figure. In February 2026, Gardai in Bray seized a quantity of 1,400 THC and HHC v**es with an estimated vale of 60,000 Euro, from a shop operating in the town.

More restrictive v**e sales legislation is currently going through the houses of The Oireachtas. The new legislation is proposing a total ban on the sale of disposable v**es, it also proposes flavour and packaging restrictions, advertising and display restrictions and a ban on the sale of recreational ni****ne products (snuz/pouches) to under 18's.

In the meantime, anecdotal and local press reports from around the country indicate that there has been a recent increase in the amount of new v**e shops appearing on the streets of towns and villages. The matter of the amount of v**e shops operating in the country has also been raised through questions posed to the Government by TD's in Dail Eireann.

Note : The Meta tag of 'AI Content' on this post, relates to the featured photograph only. The photograph was AI produced to ensure that no identifiable persons were included.

12/08/2026

- It's good to talk ..... Alcohol -

The latest parental info leaflet in the BDAF 'It's good to talk' series, has just been published.

The topic is on alcohol and the leaflet provides tips and hints on how to talk to teenagers about the potential harms and risks of underage alcohol consumption.

The leaflet will be available from BDAF in due course, but for now, it can be downloaded and printed from the link below.

https://1drv.ms/b/c/21d0d60b3f12c106/IQDe1L6kuJD0TJ7K1gMgYjVmAdRS9M9Apy55A7XqXvb2Xa8?e=YfJMui

07/08/2026

- Spice ... it hasn't gone away. -

'Spice' (also known as K2) a totally synthetic and very addictive drug that mimics the psychoactive effect of cannabis, was one of the substances that resulted in public pressure to close the 'headshops' in 2010. It is more powerful than cannabis and its effects are more unpredictable, with the adverse impact on youth mental health leading it to being described as 'the zombie drug'.

Some of the associated physical and mental health effects are :

It over-stimulates brain receptors much more than THC.
It causes extreme anxiety, panic, and confusion and can trigger fast heart beats and high blood pressure. It can also lead to vomiting, dizziness, and shaking.

Severe health risks include :

Causing unresponsiveness or a "zombie-like" state.
Dangerous seizures and the experiencing of psychotic episodes.
Sudden heart attacks or kidney failure that can lead to death.

It is now mainly seen as a drug used in prison environments, but recent evidence from the UK has raised concerns that it is also being promoted on social media platforms, aimed at young people. In v**e form the drug has no particular odour, making detection difficult for parents, or teachers in a school setting.

Professor Chris Pudney, of the applied biochemistry department at the university of Bath, has researched use of the drug in the UK and speaking recently on the RTE Radio 1 'Drivetime' news programme, he warned that he has also uncovered evidence of the drug being promoted in v**e form on social media platforms in Ireland.

The 7 minute interview can be played here :

Chris Pudney, Professor of Applied Biochemistry at University of Bath