Podcast: Ireland–China ties and rising ketamine use
China's trade surplus reached a record high last year of $1.19 trillion, a 20% increase from 2024.
Agriculture and Consumer Affairs correspondent Aengus Cox, who recently returned from China, discusses that country’s economy and why relations with Ireland are important to Beijing.
Aengus explains that China sees Ireland as a bridge in ongoing relations with the European Union.
Later, Sunday Times reporter Julieanne Corr discusses the increasing use of ketamine in the country.
Ketamine – also called 'Special K’ - is an anaesthetic used in human and veterinary medicine but has become increasingly popular as a recreational drug.
"Figures from the Health Research Board shows us that people entering drug facilities has tripled between 2021 and 2024," Ms Corr says.
"The total figures – 95 in 2021, 251 in 2024 - in some cases that was for ketamine alone, in other cases it was for ketamine and other drugs."
She explains the damaging side effects of ketamine misuse.
"It can cause extreme panic and that dissociative state [that users feel] can lead to mental health difficulties," she says.
"It’s very much linked with bladder issues – people say ‘ketamine bladder’ - this can cause increased urination.
The drug has been linked to some high-profile deaths, including Friends star Matthew Perry who accidentally drowned in 2023 with high levels of ketamine in his system.
You can listen to Behind the Story which is available on the RTÉ Radio Player.
You can also find episodes on Apple here, or on Spotify here.
