Almost nine out of 10 college students believe the drug ecstasy is "part of the clubbing scene". And around three-quarters of students believe testing of the drug should be available, according to a survey by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
The survey of 1,000 second-year college students, to be published this afternoon, found that 80 per cent of students surveyed in 40 colleges North and South have taken an illegal drug.
One in 20 took their first illegal drugs while in primary school.
More than 60 per cent of students said they considered the dance policies of nightclubs to be "not safe enough" and only 14 per cent said ecstasy was not "part of the clubbing scene".
Last year the USI called for safety tests on ecstasy tablets. A spokeswoman said the results of the survey showed that students agreed with this, with 74 per cent of students saying there should be testing at clubs.
The survey also found that 72 per cent of drug-using students took their first drugs in secondary school, with only 23 per cent experimenting for the first time in college. More than one in two students said that drugs were "part of their social lives".
Police in Britain have estimated that one million ecstasy tablets are consumed there every week. Gardai will not speculate on Irish consumption levels, but point to the increasing numbers of large seizures of the tablets.
Much of the ecstasy reaching Britain and Ireland is manufactured in eastern Europe, especially Poland, and shipped through Holland. The survey also found that cannabis was the most popular first drug, with 47 per cent of students saying it was their first drug. Ten per cent used ecstasy and 9 per cent used amphetamines, or "speed".
LSD, or "acid", was the first drug used by 8 per cent, with a similar number using "poppers" and "magic mushrooms". One per cent said they had used heroin as a first drug and 3 per cent said it had been cocaine.
More than one in four mixed their first illegal drug with alcohol.
Most students said they took drugs out of curiosity. More than 80 per cent said anti-drugs campaigns would not stop them from taking drugs.
USI president Mr Colman Byrne said the survey indicated a lack of drugs education for students and called on the Government to provide adequate information in partnership with USI.
