Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner, was asked by a resident if a campaign should be launched to make parents and teenagers more aware of the dangers of ecstasy – following several tragic deaths in the region.

Mrs Mulligan, speaking at a public meeting, said: “This is a subject that I’m extremely concerned about.”

She said some of the recent deaths have been linked to MDMA, ecstasy and added that health, education and council bosses are also working with police to tackle the problem.

North Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan

“I think it’s really important that parents have the information that they need to try to help keep their children safe, and also that young people understand the dangers,” she said.

“I’m also extremely keen to have a look at the drugs market – what is being sold to teenagers in our county, what are they taking, how they’re getting hold of it.

“I think some of the data that we have is out of date and focuses a lot on things like cannabis, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, when in fact the deaths that we’ve had most recently are due to MDMA.

“There’s a lot of work to do on this. It’s something that I’m really keen that not just the police progress, but also that we work with partners in the county and the city to really start to understand the issue.”

Fifteen-year-old Josh Reeson from New Earswick died in hospital in September after taking illegal drugs, police said.

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Police commissioner 'extremely concerned' over drug deaths of youngsters in North Yorkshire