Efforts were continuing last night to try to determine what drugs were taken by a group of students who had to be hospitalised.

Gardaí and customs officers have made the largest seizure of ecstasy in nine years after confiscating 350,000 tablets in Dublin.

Record quantities of former head shop drugs were stopped entering the country last year, with the seizure of several new substances.

Gangs are using children, the Luas, bicycles, and mobile phones to try and thwart anti-drug gardaí in Dublin city centre.

Irish suppliers of synthetic drugs are buying the substances through a sophisticated encrypted online system, according to a drugs researcher.

The HSE has issued an alert to health staff and drug services over fears that heroin contaminated with anthrax may have found its way to Ireland.

Ireland has the third-highest rate of drug deaths out of 30 European countries, according to new figures.

HEALTH workers are warning drug users about a new stimulant drug that has hit the streets.

DRUG workers have issued warnings to heroin users after four addicts died from overdoses in Kilkenny and Carlow in the last week.

THE current heroin drought has significant potential to cause death and serious injury for users, a drugs agency has warned.