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Drugs Minister Aodhdan O'Riordain admitted on Wednesday that 2C-B, the drug which has left six young people in Cork in hospital, may not be illegal.

Speaking on the Lunchtime programme on Newstalk, the minister said these type of synthetic drugs can be easily re-packaged, making it difficult for the authorities to clamp down on them.

“None of these are technically illegal but with the advent of the internet, the access to these drugs has become easier.

Read more: 'It was like a scene from CSI, they were naked and covered in blood': Eyewitness to Cork house party describes horror

“We have a problem with polydrug use.

"I would call it a crisis among young people in some parts of the country.

"They are mixing cannabis and psychoactive substances and causing incredible harm to themselves."

Minister O'Riordan described a "legal loophole" that arises from the re-packaging and manufacturing of such drugs.

"We are always playing catch-up.

(Image: @AodhanORiordain)

"We have been working on a new drugs Bill to control more substances.

"That Bill may have been delayed because I wanted to include the medically supervised injecting centres

“The message has to go out that people have to know what is in the pill, understand what substances they are taking.

“Young people are going to experiment and these are the tragic consequences.”

Read more: Man fighting for life and five hospitalised after suspected use of 'designer drug' in Cork

Meanwhile, Martin Condon of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Ireland said the "just say no" mantra doesn't work and that it is time to educate young people about dosages of drugs.

He explained: "People need to be more educated about these drugs and about the importance of testing their drugs.

"It is a bit too early yet to know what went on at this party.

"Whether these people had something they believed to be MDMA.

(Image: Denis Scannell)

"In a gram of MDMA there is about ten hits per person. In a gram of 2C-B there is almost 200 doses.

"Think how small a gram is, 2C-B has a very acute dose response.

"You go just a little bit over and you are way over in terms of that drug."

Mr Condon said students will always experiment and that the onus was the authorities to make the whole situation safer.

"The reality of the situation is that they are buying drugs from illegal sources.

"We need to educate them about drug testing kits. We would like these things talked about more."

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