A second man has died in hospital after taking drugs at a house party in Waterford city last month.
John Grey (23) from Ballybeg, who was one of two men who became critically ill after the party, died today at Waterford Regional Hospital.
Kevin Doyle (21), from the Viewmount estate in the city, died earlier this week.
Minister for Health Mary Harney
The two men were taken ill at a party in Mr Grey's home at Ballybeg, an estate on the outskirts of Waterford city, during the early hours of on November 25 th. It is understood both had eaten cocaine.
Both men had been in a coma and on life support since being transferred to hospital.
The emergency services, including five ambulances, went to the house following requests for assistance. A total of 15 people subsequently attended the emergency department at Waterford Regional Hospital.
Last Thursday, model Katy French (24) died in hospital after collapsing four days earlier with a sudden illness that has been linked to cocaine.
Commenting on the deaths, Minister for Health Mary Harney today warned that the message must go out to young people that drugs kill.
"For any family to mourn the loss of a young person in the glare of publicity is terrible and dreadful," she told RTÉ Radio. "If any good is to come out of these three awful tragedies and the publicity that is associated with them, I hope and pray that it will prevent other young people from going down the same road.
"We have to have education and awareness. Young people will experiment, that is the nature of youth. "If any positive can come from these three young lives lost in such a public way, I hope it cam become part of a campaign to inform people that cocaine will kill you, that drugs will kill you."
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly called for voluntary drug testing in schools and random drug testing at scenes of traffic accidents. "We have a middle class problem as well of professionals using cocaine all over the place. It is seen as a safe recreational drug and it's not."