Ireland is among the world’s most enthusiastic consumers of ‘mystery white powders’.
Taking part in the Global Drug Survey 2016, which was run here in association with Hot Press, 19.5% of respondents said that they’ve snorted or ingested a powder without having a clear idea of what it is. That’s up from the 2015 figure of 11.9% and brings with it significant health implications.

In the past, mystery white powders have turned out to be ketamine, MDMA, amphetamines and former head shop drugs like mephedrone.
90% say they were already intoxicated before deciding to take a MWP. 74.6% report having had a “good buzz”, 11.2% say they felt sick, 13.4% say there was no discernible effect and 0.7% sought emergency medical treatment as a result.
Their Irish popularity is only exceeded in the UK and Scotland where the respective usage rates are 20.2% and 21%.
So concerned are Dublin’s Ana Liffey Drug Project by the trend that they’ve recently launched a ‘What’s In The Powder?’ campaign in association with DIT, TCD and the UCD student unions.

* The Global Drug Survey 2016 was conducted in association with global media partners including Hot Press in the Republic of Ireland