Mothers warn about online drug access after sons' deaths

Two mothers say they found it easy to obtain drugs online after losing their sons, and the government has launched an online campaign aimed at 16–24-year-olds amid a reported rise in drug-related harms.

Two mothers whose sons died are speaking out about how easily drugs can be found online. One described how quickly she could identify a supplier during online research. The government has launched an online campaign aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds after reporting a rise in harms to young people. Officials highlighted increases in ketamine-related treatment and raised concerns about synthetic opioids and contaminated THC vapes. Key points: - A mother said she was able to locate a drug source online in a short time during her research. - The government said it is targeting 16 to 24-year-olds with an online awareness campaign following a rise in harms among young people. - Officials reported an about eight-fold increase in the number of people needing treatment for ketamine since 2015. - The campaign also draws attention to synthetic opioids and deliberately contaminated THC vapes. - One mother, identified as Fraser, said her 18-year-old son died in 2016 after taking fentanyl, and she described efforts to protect and inform other young people. Summary: The government campaign seeks to reach 16–24-year-olds after reported increases in drug-related harms, and family members are raising awareness about how accessible drugs can appear online. Undetermined at this time.