Drugs

A controlled drug is an illegal drug where the substance, product or preparation is specified in the Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977

Drug dealing is an individual or group who sells or supply’s controlled drugs/substance of any type or quantity. They can be small-time dealers who sell small quantities to offset the costs of their own drug use, or they can be highly organised groups that operate like an organised crime business.

Nationwide each region has dedicated Garda personnel committed to policing the sale and supply of drugs.

Please contact your local Garda Station if you would like to pass on information about the sale and supply of drugs or:

Garda Confidential Line Free-phone 1800 666111

Click here for the Garda Station Directory

If you or someone you know is experiencing drug-related intimidation, there is help and support available. The Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme responds to the needs of persons and family members experiencing drug related intimidation. 

A Garda Inspector is appointed in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug related intimidation. These Inspectors are of management level within An Garda Síochána and have great expertise, knowledge and vast experience. They will liaise directly with their local Superintendent in relation to each individual case. Persons seeking the assistance of the Inspector in their area may contact their nominated Inspector to arrange to meet with them either formally or informally.   

An Garda Síochána, in dealing with any complaint of drug related intimidation or advice sought in relation to this issue, will do so with the utmost safety and effective means in order to afford the person or family subject to the threat the best level of security, advice and support which can be offered. Most importantly, An Garda Síochána will deal with this issue in the utmost confidential and victim and human right secure based fashion.  An Garda Síochána will offer the following:

• Confidentiality
• Provide practical safety information
• Provide advice in relation to particular threats or instances of intimidation
• Provide information on appropriate drug support services for the individual in the family who is accruing drug debts
• Outline how to make a formal complaint, what is involved, what happens after and possible outcomes.

Click here for further Information on how to get help or more information on the Drugs-Related Intimidation Programme.

If you are seeking Garda help in an emergency situation, please dial 999 / 112

Yes.  To speak to the Gardaí in complete confidence please avail of the following services:

Garda Confidential Line Free-phone 1800 666111

Click here for the Garda Station Directory

There is no certain way to identify illegal substances except by analysis.  However signs to look out for include:

• Cannabis Herb looks like a plant substance
• Cannabis Resin is a solid brown substance
• Heroin is a brown powder
• Cocaine is a white powder
• Crack cocaine is generally a white crystallized rock type substance
• Ecstasy can be a tablet (Often with a symbol), powder or liquid. Ecstasy comes in different colour’s.

How can I recognise the signs of drug taking?

It is often difficult to tell if someone is using drugs because different substances can affect people in different ways. However, the following signs apply in a great many cases:

• Sudden changes in mood and behaviour e.g. from happy and energetic to moody and irritable
• Abnormal sleep patterns
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Lack of motivation
• Lying and stealing money or goods
• Secrecy about activities and whereabouts
• Keeping late hours and new or unknown friends
• Small plastic or elaborately folded (wraps) packaging
• Burnt foil and spoons, syringes and small bottles
• Shredded cigarettes
• Strong sweet smoky smell
   

In most cases, if your child is using drugs, there are obvious signs to look out for. However, not all children who sell drugs also use them. Here is a list of signs that your

child maybe selling drugs.

• Unexplained cash lying around
• Can suddenly afford designer clothes
• On mobile phone a lot more or has more than one mobile phone
• Unexplained small plastic bags
• Keeping late hours and new or unknown friends

There is no sure way to prevent your child from using drugs but you can decrease the chances of it happening if you:

• Maintain good communication with your child. Make sure they know they can talk to you if they have any concerns or issues.
• Be interested in their activities and know who their friends are. Help with homework and give them lifts to and from sports and other activities.
• Have open discussions with your child from a young age about drug use: what they would do if offered drugs
• Inform yourself about drugs.
• Praise and encourage healthy behaviour.
• Set clear boundaries in your home.

Yes. Passing drugs among friends constitutes a supplying offence (drug dealing). Allowing your house or premises to be used for drug misuse is also illegal. A conviction under the Misuse of Drugs Act may affect future employment prospects and many countries refuse visas to people with drug convictions. Misuse can invalidate insurance policies, including holiday, vehicle and health cover.  

Certain countries will refuse you entry with a drug conviction.

A per the findings of the working group on alternative approaches to personal possession of drugs, an extension of the adult caution has been recommended in certain circumstances.

It is an offence under section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977/84. The offence of simple possession relates to a person who is in possession of a controlled drug for their own personal use. Such offences generally relate to smaller amounts of drugs for personal use only.

No.  It is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a Ministerial Licence. 

Policy to date has not permitted the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes and no licences have been issued for this activity. 

The Government has no plans to legalise cannabis. 

The two most common active components found in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

• THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Under the Misuse of Drugs legislation products containing THC are strictly controlled and possession is unlawful except under licence.
• CBD is derived from cannabis. However, since it is not psychoactive it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation, and does not require a Ministerial Licence. 

Cannabis-Infused Edibles

The use of cannabis-infused edibles, such as jelly sweets, chocolates, cookies, and confectionery, is a relatively new trend in Ireland. Any product infused with THC is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977/1984, and their possession is illegal.

Cannabis-infused edibles could be confused with regular confectionery due to the similarities utilised in packaging the products. An Garda Síochána encourage persons who become unwell as a consequence of consuming drugs to seek medical assistance by dialling 999 or 112.

If a juvenile has consumed these products, medical attention should be sought immediately by calling 999 or 112.

People who consume these products, not realising they contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are subject to drug testing if required by law and would test positive for consumption of a drug. For instance, if a Garda conducted a Mandatory Intoxication Test on the roadside, a driver who consumed these products could be found positive for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, which would be subject to criminal proceedings.

An Garda Síochána further advises that it is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a Ministerial Licence. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Under the Misuse of Drugs legislation products containing THC are strictly controlled and possession is unlawful except under licence.

Is it illegal to take drugs and drive?

Yes - drugs can impair how we function behind the wheel. Check out this information leaflet for FAQs on how preliminary drug testing works.  

Yes.  It is illegal to buy controlled drugs/substances over the Internet.

On 15 December 2015 the Government approved the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2017 to allow for supervised injecting facilities and commenced the process of enacting this bill into legislation.

The supervised injecting facility aims to:

• reduce drug-related overdose deaths
• reduce the risks of disease transmission through shared needles
• reduce public health risks such as needle-stick injuries and
• connect the most vulnerable and marginalised people who use drugs with treatment services and other health and social services.

The facilities typically consist of a reception area, a drug consumption area and a recovery area. In addition, they usually provide an area where people can receive support from relevant health services and support groups to help improve their health and social circumstances. The exterior of a SIF looks like any other health or social care premises. There are now approximately 90 of these facilities worldwide, in Europe, Canada, and Australia. There is significant evidence gathered from these facilities of their benefits to people who use drugs and the wider society.

Typically, supervised injecting facilities provide people who use drugs with sterile injecting equipment; counselling services before and after drug consumption; emergency response in the event of overdose; and primary medical care.

Naloxone is an antidote used to reverse the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and methadone if someone overdoses.

The HSE is currently undertaking a demonstration project to assess and evaluate the suitability and impact of using a prefilled Naloxone injection which is designed for non-medical administration in Ireland. The overall objective of the project is to make naloxone more widely available for opioid drug users.

The project involves 600 opiate users receiving take-home naloxone on prescription. It will also include those recently released from custody who have been identified as at high risk of opioid overdose. These drug users and those close to them have been trained on how to administer naloxone, which comes in a pre-filled syringe, and to recognise the signs of an overdose.

Please see www.drugs.ie for more information.

How do I report illegal drug use?

Nationwide each region has dedicated Garda personnel committed to policing drug misuse. Please contact your local Garda Station if you would like to pass on information about drug misuse. 

Every district in Dublin city has a local drug unit that tackles the sale and distribution of controlled drugs at a local level. To find out which drug unit covers your area, please contact your local Garda Station.  

Also, if you have any information that could help Gardaí in combating drug dealers please ring the Garda Confidential Line Freephone on 1800 666111 or ring GNDOCB on +353 1 6669900.  

Information, video and leaflets on Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme are available here

Useful Websites 

www.health.gov.ie - Department of Health

www.hse.ie - Health Service Executive

www.drugs.ie – Drugs and Alcohol Information and Support managed by the HSE National Social Inclusion Office

www.hrb.ie/home/ - Health Research Board

www.dtcb.ie/home/default.asp - HSE National Drug Treatment Centre

www.emcdda.europa.eu/ - European monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

Useful Phone Numbers 

• HSE Drugs and Alcohol helpline 1800 459 459
• HSE National Drug Treatment Centre  01 6488600
• Merchants Quay Project 01 5240160

A comprehensive directory of alcohol, drugs and related services is also available at local health promotion offices.  

The ‘Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme’ has been developed to respond to the needs of drug users and family members experiencing drug related intimidation. If you or someone you know is experiencing drug-related intimidation, there is help and support available. Further information is available here. 

The Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme has been developed to respond to the needs of drug users and family members experiencing drug related intimidation. The Garda Commissioner has selected a Garda Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug related intimidation.  These Inspectors are of Management level within An Garda Síochána and have great expertise, knowledge and vast experience.  They will liaise directly with their local Superintendent in relation to each individual case.  Persons seeking the assistance of the Inspector in their area may contact their Inspector to arrange to meet with them either formally or informally.   

An Garda Síochána in dealing with any complaint of drug related intimidation or advice sought in relation to this issue, will do so with the utmost safety and effective means in order to afford the person or family subject to the threat of the best level of security, advice and support which can be offered.  Most importantly An Garda Síochána will deal with this issue in the utmost confidential and secure fashion. 

An Garda Síochána will offer the following:

• Confidentiality
• Provide practical safety information
• Provide advice in relation to particular threats or instances of intimidation
• Provide information on appropriate drug support services for the individual in the family who is accruing drug debts
• Outline how to make a formal complaint, what is involved, what happens after and possible outcomes.

For further information on the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and how to contact your nominated Inspector at your local Garda Station including contact telephone numbers, please click on the link below:

Contact details for nominated Inspectors for Intimidation Programme – 2025.

DRIVE (Drug Related Intimidation & Violence Engagement)

DRIVE (Drug Related Intimidation & Violence Engagement) is an interagency project with systems and structures to respond to drug related intimidation and associated violence in Ireland. The project is funded by the Department of Health through its drug initiative. The key objective of the DRIVE project is to support those experiencing drug related intimidation and to build the capacity of communities around Ireland to respond to drug-related intimidation and violence.

For more information, please visit the DRIVE website.

DRIVE leaflet can be viewed here.

If you are seeking Garda help in an emergency situation, please dial 999 / 112.

There is no certain way to identify illegal substances except by analysis. However signs to look out for include:

• Small plastic or elaborately folded wraps
• Burnt foil and spoons, syringes and small bottles
• Herbal substance or a solid, crumbly brown resin
• Shredded cigarettes
• Unusual pills, powders or liquids in small quantities
• Strong sweet smoky smell