Is it true people are Breaking Bad in Ireland?

Pharmacists across the country are being told to look out for people buying loads of over-the-counter cough medicine over fears that it's being used to manufacture crystal meth. So are people really breaking bad in Ireland?

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What’s all this about crystal meth in Ireland? I thought that was only for TV and the likes?

Well you might only hear and see it on TV these days, but crystal meth is quickly becoming a worrying drug here in Ireland. Until recently, any hauls of the drug have been fairly low and at one stage there wasn’t really a street value for it, as there wasn’t that much on the street to estimate a proper 'value'.

It can be easy enough to make - if you know what you’re doing - and you can often make a mint from selling it. That's why down on their luck crooks are giving it a go here in Ireland. However, despite what you might learn from TV, the risks aren’t worth the so called reward.

So what’s with the references to this ‘Breaking Bad’ lark?

Breaking Bad is a popular TV show from the US, which features Walter White (Bryan Cranston - pictured above) from Malcolm in the Middle), a high school chemistry teacher, who recruits one of his students to make crystal meth with him. Walter and his new recruit Jesse embark on a meth making adventure so that Walter can pay for his hospital bills (he has cancer) and for his family (he’s got a baby on the way). However, life in the meth trade isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as it first looked. The term ‘breaking bad’ is street lingo for cooking meth.

Hang on, so there are people breaking bad – as the kids apparently say – here in Ireland?

Strangely enough, yes there is. The HSE and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland have both issued warnings to pharmacists, as there has been a spike in the amount of pseudoephedrine being sold. If you’ve been watching Breaking Bad – which you’ll find on TG4 – you’ll know that pseudoephedrine, or pseudo, is one of the main components of crystal meth.

According to reports today, pharmacies in Dublin, Limerick and Kerry have all reported suspicious purchases of the over-the-counter cough medicine. Recently, a man was found with a small makeshift laboratory on his farm in Tralee, along with Sudafed tablets and around €8,000 worth of pre-cooked crystal meth. So it’s on the rise in our fair isle.

Eh, not to sound stupid, but what exactly is crystal meth?

No, that’s not a stupid question at all seeing as it’s not that prevalent here in Ireland. Crystal meth is also known as Methamphetamine in scientific circles, but on the street it’s called  "speed", "crystal", "ice", "shard", "p", "shabu/shaboo", "glass", "crank", "scanté", "rizz", "rock", "tina" and "cold". Apparently, it gives you a massive high but the withdrawals from one hit can last for days leaving you moody, anxious and downright depressed.

Should I refrain from buying cough medicine so? In case the men in the black suits come knocking on my door?

Well, no. We just wouldn’t go buying five packs in a go. You know yourself…