Opinion

Drink and drug use at Derry concert has serious consequences

Concerns have been raised after a Club MTV concert in Derry's Ebrington Square on Saturday night resulted in 30 young people needing hospital treatment.

This is deeply alarming as is the fact that children as young as 12 were among those taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in the city.

According to emergency consultant Dr Paul Baylis, some of those brought to the hospital ended up in intensive care, which gives an indication of the seriousness of the situation.

We are told most of the young people arriving at Altnagelvin were suffering the effects of drink or drugs. Medical staff also had to deal with a number of assault cases, with patients saying they had been attacked by other people who were under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

It is clear the upsurge in patients from this concert placed an enormous strain on the hospital's emergency department on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Dr Baylis told the BBC they were ``stretched to their limits.''

Obviously, this additional and unexpected pressure not only has an impact on staff but also other patients needing to attend the casualty unit.

The organisers of the concert, Legacy Promotions, said a large number of under-18s were turning up at the gates already drunk and event staff had turned away hundreds of young people who had been drinking.

Unfortunately, this is not the first music event where young concert-goers have required medical attention and while it is perhaps no surprise that drugs are available at gigs, it is an issue that requires vigilance on the part of organisers.

Legacy Promotions is now rethinking its policy of allowing under-18s to attend such events which would seem to be a sensible approach given Saturday night's experience.

Parents must also be aware of the potential risks facing teenagers as no one wants to see their child ending up in the back of an ambulance.