Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he or his Department had consultations with the Department of Health and Children, any health organisations such as the World Health Organisation, or any of his fellow EU Ministers or at EU level in regard to research of the effects of a created drug (details supplied) on those who use cocaine and alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8954/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The joint National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) report, "An Overview of on Cocaine Use in Ireland", published in 2007, identified cocaethylene as a dangerous naturally occurring by-product of using cocaine and alcohol together. When people mix these substances, the human liver combines them in the system to form cocaethylene and this is more toxic than using either drug alone. As one might expect, data from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System indicates that cocaine and alcohol are being used together. While the combination of the two drugs intensifies euphoric effects, cocaethylene can cause more serious physical harm, particularly to the cardiovascular system, as well as having the potential to increase the risk of sudden death.

Heightening awareness of the risks associated with the use of alcohol and cocaine was a fundamental element of the national cocaine awareness campaign undertaken by the HSE in 2008. Allied to this, Drugs Task Forces undertook local campaigns focusing on cocaine to dovetail with the national campaign. Funding of €0.5m was provided to the Task Forces for this purpose in 2008.