Ireland ranks third in the EU for the number of drug-related deaths. It comes days after health officials warned people to steer clear of a batch of potentially lethal 'Double Cross' or 'Double Black' drugs.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says the EU has an average drug death rate of 17 per million population.

The Irish rate is 70 per million people. Only figures in Estonia (191 per million) and Norway (76 per million) are higher. Behind Ireland are Sweden (63 per million) and Finland (58 per million).

Drug use is one of the major causes of death among young people in Europe - both directly through overdose, and indirectly through drug-related diseases, accidents, violence and suicide.

Overall, the Centre says around 6,100 overdose deaths, mainly related to opioids, were reported in Europe in 2012. This compares to 6,500 reported in 2011 and 7,100 cases in 2009.

It says progress made in this area can be partly attributed to the scaling up of treatment and harm reduction. But it adds that, in contrast, overdose deaths remain high, or are increasing, in some countries.

The report says while heroin is still involved in many fatal overdoses, deaths relating to this drug are generally falling and those linked to synthetic opioids are on the rise in some countries.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said "I am deeply concerned that the drugs consumed in Europe today may be even more damaging to users' health than in the past".

"There are signs that the ecstasy and cannabis sold on the street are getting stronger. I also note that the EU Early Warning System, our first line of defence against emerging drugs, is coming under growing pressure as the number and diversity of substances continue to rise sharply".

"The system has already reviewed this year four new substances linked to acute intoxications and deaths in the Member States" she added.