Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 5:30pm

Public meeting on 'head shops' to be held in Athlone

The Athlone Drug Awareness Group has called a public meeting to discuss the products sold by 'head shops' in the town.

The meeting will take place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on Thursday next, March 11, at 7.30pm.

Organiser Cllr Frankie Keena said he would invite local Oireachtas members to attend the meeting and hear the views of the public.

An information leaflet on 'head shop' products has been compiled by the drug awareness group and is due to be made available at the meeting. The group is also planning to distribute its leaflet on a door-to-door basis locally.

'Head shops' - which are legal and sell a variety of herbal and synthetic substances - have attracted plenty of media attention in recent months.

Cllr Keena, who is the chairman of the Athlone Drug Awareness Group, said he'd received a large number of phonecalls from parents who had questions and concerns relating to 'head shops'.

He said the meeting next week would be open to discussing possible future activities surrounding head shops. He mentioned public demonstrations and the lobbying of local representatives as two of the possibilities.

"I've had a lot of calls from parents wanting to know what these 'head shops' are. They have been asking the dangers are of the products they sell, and what can be done if their children use these products," said Cllr Keena.

"It has been our intention all along to hold a public meeting on 'head shops' but the meeting has probably been brought forward as a result of the attention these shops have gotten in the national and local media."Cllr Keena said there would be a small number of speakers on the night who would outline the products sold by 'head shops', explain why they are legal, and discuss the possible side-effects of their consumption. He added that there was very little literature available on 'head shop' products and that "a lot of research" went into the information leaflet which the group plans to distribute. He also said was hopeful there would be a large turnout at the meeting.

"I think it's in people's interest to come along. These shops are a whole new phenomenon and people are unsure about them.

I think it's important that we keep our finger on the pulse and create awareness about these 'legal highs'," he said.