It’s time to separate pharmaceutical fact from fiction as the Global Drug Survey 2017 launches in Ireland with the support of Hot Press.

Hot Press put many of last year’s Irish findings to then Minister for Drugs, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who acknowledged the importance of the Global Drug Survey.

We’ll be looking to talk to his successor, Catherine Byrne, about the 2017 findings as soon as the numbers are crunched.

Have friends who take drugs? Tell them about the Global Drug Survey, so that we can present politicians with facts rather than hearsay and rumour. And remember, this year’s survey is taking place against a backdrop of significant liberalisation of the law in many US states.

Also supported internationally by the likes of The Guardian, La Republica, San Francisco Chronicle, Vice, Zeit and Stuff NZ, there’s a special 2016 focus on our drinking habits, vaping, police stop/search/arrest, novel psychoactive substances and drugs and driving.

Among the myriad questions that will be answered are, “Is Irish cannabis still the most expensive in Europe?”; “How widespread is the use of more dangerous synthetic cannabis here?”; “Can you get butane hash oil in Ireland?”; “What new designer drugs and legal highs are people taking?”; “Has the internet taken over from street dealers?”; “Are smart drugs really that smart?”, and “Do clubbers take more drugs than the rest of the population?”

The Global Drug Survey is 100% confidential and takes about 15 minutes to complete. Have your say – and help shape the future of Irish drug policy. Visit globaldrugsurvey.com now to take part.