Emergency departments in Cork city have been confronted with a number of drug-related cases involving new, and highly dangerous, chemicals.

Ecstasy users are facing increased threats from tablets which, in the main, are purer and stronger but, in an unknown number of cases, are contaminated with toxic amphetamine chemicals.

A record number of new synthetic drugs are being detected in Europe — but stretched agencies are unable to keep up with the dizzying array of substances because of budget cuts.