'Worrying' Drugs Figures Prompt Protest

An anti-drugs march has been announced after a publication detailing drug use in the Irish Republic revealed "worrying" increases in the use of Heroin.

According to a report by homeless support group Merchants Quay Ireland, the level of Heroin use has reached proportions of a "national crisis".

The group said that during the year 4,657 individuals had accessed their "needle-exchange" facility, representing a slight increase on 2007, while the number of interventions with homeless people had increased by 12%.

Tony Geoghegan, Chief Executive of the group, said: "We began to see the first effects of the economic crisis with more people than ever seeking help at our drop in centre for homeless people.

During 2008 we saw the continuation of a number of worrying trends. Injecting drug use is increasingly widespread across the country."

As the report was published, a community protest has been announced by drug training and support service Drugs.ie announced a march on the Dáil on Wednesday to protest against proposed cuts to the sector.

David Connolly, chairman of the campaign, said the McCarthy report proposals, if implemented, would result in the loss of more than 6,500 jobs in the sector.

"The implications for services and communities are real and devastating," he said. "Projects that deliver vital childcare, youth support, drug rehabilitation, education, training, literacy programmes and community development will have to cut services and many will face closure as the result of the government cutbacks and the McCarthy proposals."

Mr Connolly said cuts would end up costing the State more in the long run.

"For every €1 that is spent on quality childcare, the State saves €10. For every €1 spent on drug rehabilitation the State saves €3," he said.

In the North, it has emerged that hundreds of young people were treated for alcohol abuse and almost a tenth of children are regular smokers.

NI's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride's annual report also showed that last year the average age at which pupils in Northern Ireland were first offered drugs was 13.

Commenting he said: "We all have a responsibility to ensure that young people know the facts about alcohol, about the real harm it does, about how getting drunk can lead to all sorts of unwanted consequences - and not just the hangover."

The figures from 2006/07 reveal that 8,313 people were admitted to acute hospitals with alcohol-related problems and around 200 aged under 18.

(DW/BMcc)