Munster Fine Gael MEP John Cushnahan has called on the Health Department and the Irish Medicines Board to adopt a common sense approach in implementing EU legislation on the use of alternative medicines. Mr Cushnahan pointed out that following the implementation of recent EU legislation, all alternative medicinal products must be the subject of a product authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. Recently, the board launched A Guide to the Definition of a Medicinal Product, which required that many products sold as food supplements be registered as medicines. [continues 207 words]
LIMERICK, Galway and Waterford have been excluded from the Government's pounds 15 million anti-drugs fund because they do not have a serious heroin problem, compared to Dublin and Cork. This emerged yesterday when the decision was described by Labour Deputy Jan O'Sullivan as a slap in the face for the voluntary groups and agencies involved in combating drug abuse in Limerick. Deputy O'Sullivan criticised Minister of State Chris Flood for the decision by claiming he did not operate a policy which could truly be called national, as key areas of the country which need extra funding had been ignored. [continues 328 words]
A 39 YEAR OLD Limerickman appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Saturday night in connection with the biggest ever seizure of drugs in the city, estimated at a street value of 1.8 million pounds. Members of the Garda National Drugs Unit, Dublin Castle, backed up by members of the Limerick Garda Drugs Squad uncovered the huge cannabis resin haul when they swooped on an apartment on Friday afternoon. Patrick Scanlan, 9 Davis Street, was charged before Judge Tom O'Donnell of being in possession of cannabis resin for the purpose of sale or supply at Mount Kenneth Place on June 25, 1999, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. [continues 146 words]
ALCOHOL abuse is widespread in the Mid-West region with a half of 14-year-olds surveyed drinking. The drugs problem in Limerick City is not as bad as Dublin but moving in that direction, said Dr Kevin Kelleher, Director of Public Health for the Mid-Western Health Board yesterday. The Board launched the first new Drug and Alcohol Service outside Dublin to be a first point of contact for all drug and alcohol users or concerned persons and as a signpost to other services in the region, including treatment options. [continues 276 words]
