Well-known Dun Laoghaire beach cleaner Flossie Donnelly found "over 40" traces of Nitrous Oxide during a late night beach clean last night - the deadly drug that killed 15-year-old Tallaght teenager Alex Ryan last week.
The young Dublin activist posted a video of the grim find around the same time that Alex's heartbroken dad released a plea to youngsters asking them to stay away from the lethal and cheap drug.
On her page Flossie and the Beach Cleaners, the youngster revealed: "We found over about 40 of these [holding the silver bullet-like cannisters]. We're not quite sure what it is but we're told that it's a drug to be used."
What it is sadly, is Nitrous Oxide gas, also known as "hippy crack", which has become the "drug of choice" for young people in the city in recent years due to its cheap high and easy availability.
People inhale the gas from balloons or metal cannisters for a euphoric, pain-numbing effect.
And that was what tragic Alex had done when he was found slumped over in an unresponsive state just after 8pm on Wednesday, May 20.
The 15-year-old was rushed to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin but sadly died at around 10pm that night.
In an emotional video shared by The Echo, Alex's devastated dad Mick Morrissey revealed that his son had died after taking the drug which is running rampant across the capital.
Holding up a canister, brave Mick said: "I want to highlight these canisters that the children in the area are taking.
"Unfortunately my son passed away from taking one of these.
"I'd like for everybody in the area, the whole of the country and the whole of the world to be able to recognise these things. These things are dangerous.
"Children are able to buy these things on the street for €1 or €2 a go and unfortunately my son was one of the ones that didn't survive.
"I'd like to put it out there please so everybody knows these things are dangerous."
And the heartbroken dad added that while there is nothing to do to bring his football-mad son back, he hoped his appeal would save the lives of other young people.
He said: "I'm asking please everybody to try and keep your children aware of these things and stay away from them.
"It's unfortunate what's after happening to Alex. We have lost a child and we're devastated over what has happened.
"There's nothing ever going to bring him back but if I can save one child's life by showing people these things, that one child would be enough for me."
Legislation introduced in 2016 made it illegal to sell the gas for psychoactive purposes.
But enforcing the legislation has proved difficult because it is used in food products such as whipped cream, and medicine meaning it can be easily bought online by youngsters.
