Approximately nine people a month are losing their lives due to drug-related incidents throughout Northern Ireland.
That was the stark message given by Health Minister Edwin Poots as he met with representatives of REACT Youth Information and Advice Centre to discuss recent suspected drug-related deaths in the Banbridge area.
There were 110 drug-related deaths in Northern Ireland in 2012 – approximately nine a month or two a week.
Mr Poots said the figures were “alarming.”
He added: “This is far too many and totally unacceptable. No drugs are safe.
“The illegal drugs industry is not regulated and people have absolutely no idea what they are putting into their bodies so I urge people to think again before taking any illegal drugs.”
Mr Poots said he wanted reassure the public that all key agencies were working together to prevent and address the, potentially fatal, harm that substance misuse had on communities.
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