Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All forms of substance abuse, whether it is the top shelf I referred to earlier or drugs, must be called out. What worries me most is the normalisation of cocaine use we have seen in recent years. Speaking to young people in my constituency, it is accepted among some people that this is what is done at the weekend on a Friday or Saturday night. That is bonkers to me as someone who is only 20 years ahead of them in the life cycle. How have things changed so rapidly and drastically in that time? Certainly, when I was that age, the idea that using cocaine recreationally might be normal was completely off the charts but it is now accepted as normal and it is a ticking time bomb. There are huge implications in the long and short term. We need to do more. A massive awareness campaign is needed nationally about this.

See this speech in context