Concerns that the anaesthetic drug ketamine — which causes hallucinations and can lull users into a coma — could be on the increase in Cork after nearly €27,000 worth of the drug was seized in the city in recent weeks.

Two men have been arrested after drugs worth €220,000 were seized in Co Carlow yesterday.

Ketamine has "shown promise" in rapidly treating the symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts, a study has said.

Street drug ketamine should be offered as a last resort treatment for patients suffering from severe depression, scientists have said.

Three men are being questioned over the largest seizure of ketamine the State has ever seen.

Around €1.3m worth of ketamine has been seized in Garda operations carried in the Dublin and Kildare regions.

A festival-goer has died after suffering a suspected reaction to ketamine at Glastonbury.