Father Frank O'Hagan was speaking to mourners at the funeral in County Londonderry of a teenager suspected of taking the drug ecstasy.
Jason Brolly, 16, from Drumavalley estate, Bellarena, died in hospital on Monday from multiple organ failure after being taken ill on Saturday.
His mother and father, Rosemary and Maurice, sisters Sonya and Tina and brother Martin led the cortege from the estate.
The mourners included many of his young friends who came to pay their respects.
Father O'Hagan told mourners it was the first drug related death in the parish and described it as a tragedy.
Speaking at Requiem Mass in St Aidan's Church in Magilligan, he described Jason as a jolly and lively teenager who was popular.
He said he hoped young people would gain something from what he termed "this awful tragedy" otherwise their friend would have died in vain.
Jason was buried in the adjoining cemetery.
Surveys indicate that about 10% of young UK adults aged 15 to 29 have tried ecstasy.
That figure jumps to about 90% for young people regularly attending outdoor raves or nightclubs.
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