As you’ll doubtless have already seen, we’re rolling out the Irish results of the Global Drug Survey 2016 today. Over 100,000 people took part, making it the largest ever worldwide study of who’s taking what, where, how often and for how much.
To assist with further harm reduction initiatives, the GDS people are running a mini-survey, which should take you no longer than two minutes to complete.
One of the questions asked is, “Would you use on-site drug checking or pill/powder testing services if they were available in your country?” which is very topical given, one, the huge increase in MDMA use here - up 19.5% to 58.1% - and then Health Minister, Leo Varadker, raising the issue of pill testing here in the run-up to the General Election.
"We know from years of experience that education on its own does not work,” he proffered. “People need to be aware that when it comes to anything bought over the internet or street they don't really know what they are taking."
There are also questions about festival drug use, a subject that’s currently being addressed by Dublin’s Ana Liffey Drug Project who are offering harm reduction services to event promoters.
Click on now to [link]globaldrugsurvey.com/GDS2016.5[/link]