A number of young men were hospitalised following parties in Dublin over the weekend. They are believed to have taken liquid ecstasy.

Such stories are very familiar to us at Merchants Quay Ireland, where we have been providing services for drug users for the past 20 years.

Day after day, we become aware of more and more people coming to harm as a result of drug use.

High-profile cases such as that of Katy French, who died after taking cocaine, receive much coverage and serve to remind us that drug use carries significant risks and sometimes fatal consequences.

Despite much publicity about the risks and consequences of drug use, large numbers of people continue to take recreational drugs and this fact is unlikely to change soon.

While the facts are stark, all the evidence suggests that if people who continue to use drugs are aware of the risks and know how to respond when things go wrong, there is a lot they can do to reduce the risk of harm to themselves or their friends.

While the safest advice is not to use drugs at all, it remains a fact that young people, in particular, will continue to take drugs regardless.

At Merchants Quay Ireland, we believe that the first step to take with people who are, as yet, unwilling or unable to give up drugs is to provide useful advice that will help them to minimise the potential damage and risks of illegal drug use.

The greatest risk from illegal drug use lies in the lack of ‘quality control’ or actual knowledge of what the illegal substance contains.

Illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin are regularly ‘cut’ or diluted with other substances, as they progress along the supply chains, to bulk up the amounts, thereby maximising the profits for the dealers.

Similarly, so-called party drugs such as ecstasy can be cut with various other substances to maximise their retail value.

In most cases the adulterants used in ‘cutting’ are either benign substances such as glucose, or a cheaper chemical that produces a similar type drug effect.

However, we have become aware of many instances where illegal drugs have been found to contain lethal adulterants that have resulted in serious injury, and death for some. Even with the high levels of publicity that often surrounds drug-related deaths or injury, people continue to use illegal drugs.

Most people simply believe that ‘it won’t happen to them’ and many, therefore, just ignore the risks.

Faced with these realities, Merchants Quay Ireland, along with numerous other drugs agencies, have adopted what is termed a ‘harm reduction’ approach to dealing with the issue.

Harm reduction refers to policies or programmes that aim to reduce the negative health, social and economic consequences of drug use to individual drug users, their families and their communities.

Harm reduction strategies seek to make drug users aware of high-risk practices and provide information on safer ways to use drugs, thereby minimising the risk to the individual.

• Never use drugs alone, there is more safety in numbers and if one person gets into difficulty another can seek help.
• Only source drugs from people you know or have experience of.
• Always start with a small amount, as this allows time to gauge the strength of the substance.
• Be cautious of mixing drugs, including alcohol, as one substance may mix badly with another.
• If you or a friend experience any difficulty, always seek medical help immediately.

While the above list is by no means exhaustive, it gives an indication of the practical advice that, in some cases, can make the real difference between life and death.

Merchants Quay Ireland’s advocacy of harm-reduction strategies is born of our recognition of the very real and often tragic consequences of drug use.

Our aim is always to intervene in a manner that can reduce risk and ultimately save lives.

The reality is that drug-related death or injury is highly preventable.

Prevention requires education and honest advice for those at risk.

Often very simple steps can help ensure that a risky escapade does not turn into a senseless tragedy.

Tony Geoghegan is director of the drugs services organisation Merchants Quay Ireland

- TONY GEOGHEGAN

Irish Independent