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Dublin Mayor throws weight behind 'What's in the Powder?' drugs campaign

The initiative is aimed at increasing awareness levels around drugs.

A PROGRESSIVE DRUGS initiative that began life in the country’s universities has a high-profile backer.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Criona Ni Dhalaigh has given her support to the ‘What’s in the Powder?’ campaign, aimed at making those who take drugs more aware of what’s in them.

It is the brainchild of a collaboration between universities DIT, TCD and UCD and the Ana Liffey Drug Project.

Resources and a factsheet will now be distributed around on campuses and promoted on social media and the website drugs.ie. 

Speaking about the project, the Lord Mayor said:

While it’s always safest not to use illicit drugs at all, the reality is that people do use drugs. Given that this is the case, they need to be properly informed about the risks and how to reduce the potential for harm.

She went on to commend the work that has already been carried out by student welfare officers and the staff of the Ana Liffey Drug Project.

This follows on from the ‘Whats in the Pill’ project that the same grouping launched in October of last year. 

This campaign differs in that it is directly focused on powder taking, something that has come more to prominence with high-profile instances of ‘designer drugs’ doing people severe damage in the past six months.

Speaking about the new campaign, director of the Ana Liffey Drug Project Tony Duffin, said: “Each year students arrive through the doors of their third level institutions full of life and looking forward to the future.

Part of this is to embrace this new found freedom. For some people, this will involve taking illicit drugs. Those people need clear, accurate and evidence-based communication on this subject. That is what this campaign provides.

Read: Those big plans for injection centres and decriminalisation could now be reversed

Also: Criminalising possession doesn’t discourage use – we need real solutions

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34 Comments
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    Mute Gus McIntosh
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:11 AM

    I think what Paul is trying to say is that the hardships associated with drugs are inevitable, so action must be taken to minimise it.

    I heard it summed up like this once:

    The war on drugs has been underway for decades. During this time, it has gotten progressively cheaper and easier to buy drugs. The war is being lost. Time for a rethink.

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:18 AM

    Exactly. Perhaps I should have held back until I actually got out of bed. Yep!!!! I check all my social media apps the second I wake up. It’s like a drug. I’m addicted. And the worst thing is, I know what makes up social media is pure shhittte and is not good for you. But I still want more.

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    Mute Anto H
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:18 AM

    Prohibition doesn’t work.
    It makes criminals of decent people and gives some very evil, violent people a way to get extremely rich.
    Legalise it all. It was legal once and will be legal again. This phase of ignorance is just pointless.

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Apr 1st 2016, 6:35 AM

    Drugs will always be available for those who want them. The only way to really deal with it is legalise them and therefore have greater control of what goes in them. Although the bloody government will probably tax them so, much people will still have to go underground as they won’t be able to afford them.

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    Mute Not_Rod_Ten©
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    Apr 1st 2016, 6:50 AM

    So we should just accept the lose of life involved in the manufacture and distribution of these drugs as inevitable then.

    16
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:12 AM

    Do I accept the fact that I like pizza? Yes I do. Is it inevitable pizza will always cooked somewhere in the world? Most likely.

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    Mute Mark
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:20 AM

    There’ll also be the early stages where criminals will get onto their customers to buy from them and not the “shops”. They might not be your friendly neighbourhood dealers then.

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    Mute Mark
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:22 AM

    I’m pro legal, just saying it won’t be as simple as people think.

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:11 AM

    Excellent initiative but it needs to be urgently expanded to nightclubs and festivals where many of the drug deaths occur

    38
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    Mute Smeghead
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:21 AM

    An excellent intitiative would be selling home testing kits or portable kits. Fact sheets have a very limited use.

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Apr 1st 2016, 3:07 PM

    How about having a “who’s arsehole were the drugs you are putting up your nose smuggled through” type campaign…anyone???

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Apr 1st 2016, 6:34 AM

    Ah yes, quality control, dear to the dealer’s heart!

    37
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    Mute Conor O'Neill
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:55 AM

    Drugs are for losers who have no respect for their bodies !

    13
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    Mute Tiff O'Rourke
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    Apr 1st 2016, 9:13 AM

    And you would know this how?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 1st 2016, 10:34 PM

    If they can lick it up from a nightclub toilet floor, then do they really care about what is in it if they get the kick they want?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 1st 2016, 10:37 PM

    Drugs are for spoilt people who are easily led around garden paths and then who look for sympathy for screwing up their lives because of drugs, it is better to never start than to spend a lifetime regretting it…
    I see the Meth train will be a big thing here, so don’t do drugs kids lol.

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    Mute just readin
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:33 AM

    This is exactly what Government is for, informing the public about the decisions they make, rather than telling them what to do …

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:23 AM

    How about a campaign to educate young and not so young people that they don’t need take any sort of artificial stimulant in order to enjoy life??

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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:41 AM

    People don’t take heroin to “enjoy” life they take it to get away from the horrific despair of their lives

    30
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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:00 AM

    Kevin, the article isn’t about heroin. It’s about designer party drugs. Huge difference. And if you want to bring in the worst drug of all, it’s alcohol. But we won’t worry about the actual scientific facts about which substance causes more harm to the body.

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    Mute Alex Gogglebox
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    Apr 1st 2016, 5:22 PM

    Yeh sure you don’t NEED drugs to enjoy life but is certainly a lot better when you are on them!

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    Mute David Saunders
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:23 AM

    For an industry with no regulations there seems to be more people killed by regulated drugs

    19
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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 10:02 AM

    @ Conor O’Neill never taken a drink no? Never got pissed? Ever taken an anadin? Ever had an accident or surgery/treatment and needed opiate based painkillers? I hope if you ever do suffer real pain that you tell the doc “drugs are for losers who have no respect for their bodies” lol

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    Mute Conor O'Neill
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    Apr 1st 2016, 2:07 PM

    All those are quality controlled . Unlike illegal drugs ! U would want to be a egit to take illegal drugs !

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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:53 AM

    I must say that to me this article is lacking on info regarding what it is exactly this initiative is doing to inform drug users. Nothing short of safe and legal testing of substances followed by real professional advice as to how to take whatever substance it turns out to be is the only way. Imagine if the cork heads had been told after testing that the drug they possessed was extremely strong and works after taking only the smallest amounts, there might not have been the nightmarish scenes and a life could have been saved!

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    Mute Wynnner
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    Apr 1st 2016, 11:45 AM

    Legalize it and then you might know what in it

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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:42 AM

    It is actually! the online marketplaces survive on top quality clean products that are lab tested and also peer reviewed ;) people can check out real peoples comments and decide to buy for themselves without leaving the house and coming into contact with dangerous criminals ;)

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    Mute Michael Collins
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:50 AM

    Legalise everything !!

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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 9:27 AM
    3
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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:57 AM

    I can buy whatever I want online, Peruvian/Bolivian/ coke, China White, DMT, MDMA, LSD, whatever yore having yourself, delivered to the door within a week and not a dealer in sight. It really is that simple ;)

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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:47 AM

    What is wrong with the journal commenting?! Twice I clicked to reply to a particular comment before I wrote out my comment to try make sure my comment linked to the comment I was replying to but still my comment ends up being thrown randomly into the mix! Sort it out for crying out loud, this had been going on long enough now and hardly makes for a very interesting comment section

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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 1st 2016, 9:28 AM

    Again, even with clicking twice to reply I can’t even reply to my own comments!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 1st 2016, 10:31 PM

    Sounds like a game RTE could use, “What’s in the Bag with Gay Byrne” and don’t say urine lol.

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    Mute Declan Dowling
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    Apr 1st 2016, 12:12 PM

    Like Persil. Built-in softener! So I heard.

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