Dawn Russell

is that kind of othering of drug users, that people will see that it happens to other people, but not to me, as you said earlier, Clare.

And it's not to stigmatise or shame people for trying substances or using them frequently, but it is to kind of reflect on the fact that that can become a risk for you.

And if it is your loved one who's doing it, you really do need to keep a close eye and engage with them because the difference between recreational, enjoyable use and having a serious health event or slipping into addiction is a knife edge.

Absolutely.

And our colleagues in the HSE, they roll out a safer nightlife programme, for example, and they work on site in festivals.

I think you've had my colleague Nikki Kleene on before talking about their drug testing in festivals.

And what we see is not every young person who goes to a festival is using drugs.

So I don't want to create a fear around that.

But those that are at festivals and engaging in substances are engaging in much more harmful levels of ketamine and cocaine use and pill use such as E.

than we have ever seen before.

And they're mixing those substances.

And alcohol hasn't gone from the youth population either.

They are still using it to a degree.

And what we really do need to let people know is that if you're mixing those substances, especially with alcohol, that actually creates a stronger, more potent substance in a person's body called coke ethanol, which can cause poisoning, unfortunately, and serious health problems.

implications.

Absolutely.

And what I worry about with drug use is when I hear people talking about safe ways to use drugs.

And, you know, I'm safe if I do it this way.

You're not.

You may be safer.