1645. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to alerts issued by the HSE on ketamine (details supplied); the measures that his Department is taking to tackle ketamine use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1099/24]

Hildegarde Naughton: Minister of State at the Department of Health: Strengthening harm reduction responses to high-risk drug use is a priority in the national drug strategy.. Strengthening harm reduction responses in the night-time economy and festivals, including drug checking, form part of this priority.

Ketamine is what is known as a ‘dissociative aesthetic’ which is used in medicine and veterinary care. While it is not a new drug trend to present to the market, it is one that has increased in use more recently among young adults who frequent nightlife settings.

For the first time the recently published Healthy Ireland Survey for 2023 asked respondents in the general population to participate in a module focussing on illicit drug use. The results of the survey show that the most common illicit drugs used within the last year are cannabis (5.9%), cocaine (1.9%), ecstasy or MDMA (0.8%), magic mushrooms (0.8%) and ketamine (0.4%).

In 2019, an online study of people who use drugs at festivals (n=1,093) by the HSE and Trinity College Dublin identified that 63% of respondents reported to the use of ketamine at an event. In addition, use was further identified in the European Web Survey for Drugs 2021 Irish findings (N=5,796) where 23% of respondents reporting use, which positioned it as the fourth highest drug used among survey participants following cannabis, cocaine and MDMA

Through the HSE’s Safer Nightlife Programme, trained volunteers engage with people who use drugs at festivals through outreach and at the HSE designated tent. This work includes providing information, education and harm reduction material about ketamine so people can make informed decisions. This work also involves identifying people who may have overconsumed to help direct cases of concern to medical care providers.

Throughout the four events where the ‘back of house’ drug monitoring service has been available since 2022, the main substances analysed were MDMA (117 samples), ketamine (40 samples) and cocaine (34 samples). A HSE alert was issued at Life Festival in May relating to products considered high strength causing issues at the event. In addition, ketamine continued to be a concern at other events throughout last summer and the HSE continued to provide education on this drug’s short and long term risks and how to minimise harms for those who choose to use.

In addition to outreach services at festivals, the HSE shares resources about ketamine online to raise awareness of the effects, how to reduce harm as well as on the long-term health implications. Ketamine is included as part of on-going awareness raising activities on social media channels through paid advertisements mainly targeting young adults aged 18 to 25 years old.

I will continue to support to the HSE Safer Nightlife Programme and look forward to its expansion in 2024.