Ireland must prepare for fentanyl surge, says Taoiseach

One person dies of a fentanyl overdose every three hours in New York. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Ireland must prepare for a surge in fentanyl use which could spark a rise in drug deaths and homelessness, the Taoiseach has warned.

Speaking in New York, where one person dies of an overdose every three hours, Leo Varadkar has said it is now "more likely than not" that the powerful synthetic drug will reach these shores on a large scale.