People should avoid getting into a ‘frenzy and hysteria’ over reports that needles are being used to ‘spike’ people in nightclubs, according to a consultant in emergency medicine.

Recent weeks have seen an increase in claims people are being spiked with needles in UK nightclubs and over the weekend, reports on social media suggested a similar attack had occurred at a Dublin nightclub.

Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating a report “where a female became disorientated possibly caused by a drug administered by a needle prick.”

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Dr Mick Molloy Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the HSE said there have been no needle spiking cases in Irish hospitals to date.

“I am not aware of any case of spiking by needle injection in emergency departments,” he said.

“I was actually talking to my colleagues in the emergency medicine body around the country yesterday about this and we haven’t seen any presentations or any evidence of this.”

"Not our experience"

He said injecting something into a patient’s bloodstream is a specialised skill that takes a considerable amount of time.

Where drugs are injected into the muscle or fat, it takes a “considerable volume” for them to take effect and even then, it takes 30 or 40 minutes.

“I am a diabetic myself, I have to inject myself a couple of times a day with my own insulin,” he said. “Every time I feel the needle.”

“So, it is very unlikely. It is kind of the realms of movies and science fiction when you hear about people having drug injections in public places, where they get knocked out immediately.

“It is kind of the stuff you see in movies, but it is not our experience of public life.”

"Frenzy and hysteria"

He said people should always be cautious when they are going out but warned against reading too much into needle spiking stories.

“It is very easy for a story like this to gain traction and to gain currency and be spoken about so widely that it starts to create a frenzy and a hysteria and I think that is the scenario we are in,” he said.

“I think people need to be careful when they are going out – obviously watch your own drinks and that kind of thing but I wouldn’t be wary of somebody injecting you with needles.

“If you feel that, it is more likely to be somebody now pranking you at this stage.”

"Everyone is terrified"

Also on the show, Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie spoke to Irish students who said the story had made them scared to go out with their friends.

“It is always something that is in the back of your mind and something you are aware of,” said one.

“But I think now, especially when you are talking about spiking with needles, that is just a totally different ball game. It is definitely very scary at the moment going out.

“I have definitely worn a jacket in a club because you actually don’t know who is around you.”

We have all decided to start wearing leather jackets and stuff to try and cover up I suppose,” said another. “Everyone is terrified.”

“It almost makes me not want to go out anymore. Maybe it is not even worth it, you know? I might just stay home.”