A legal semi-synthetic cannabis is harming children’s health and well-being, a leading child psychiatrist has said.

A new study by doctors at the University of Galway and Mercy University Hospital Cork found the substance was readily available online and in retail outlets across Ireland.

It concluded it was also responsible for the admission of two men to hospital with psychotic illness. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Dr Bobby Smyth said he is always concerned about the impact of drugs on a person’s mental health. 

“The two men described in the article experienced a full-blown psychosis which lasted a number of weeks and in each case required hospitalisation,” he said.  

“So, clearly deeply disturbing and difficult for them… Fortunately, they both seem to have done okay with cessation of the HHC use and some medical treatment.” 

Adolescent addiction

Dr Smyth currently works in adolescent addiction services in Dublin and cannabis use is a problem for a significant majority of his patients. 

“Young people referred into treatment, they’ll often have more than one substance involved but usually there’s one main substance,” he said. 

“That one main substance is cannabis in about 70 to 80% of cases and it’s been that way for probably close to a decade. 

“I know that is the exact same situation across the country, so cannabis and cannabis-related products are the primary driver of treatment demand.” 

Some of Dr Smyth’s patients have used HHC and he said the HSE has been “expressing concern” about it for some time. 

“I know within our own services, we’re seeing adolescents reporting use of them within our addiction services,” he said. 

“Some of them are reporting adverse mental health effects and physical effects, so there have been calls to have this substance added to the Misuse of Drugs Act - which would make it illegal in the same way other drugs are illegal.” 

Last year, the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs said possession of drugs for personal use should not be a crime.

Main image: File photo of a stressed teenager. Picture by: Aleksandr Davydov / Alamy Stock Photo