‘Lives at risk due to cuts in drugs services’

The Government is putting hundreds of lives at risk by slashing drug addiction prevention budgets by more than a third since it came to power.

The claim was made by drug service workers, opposition politicians, and former addicts at a major conference of the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign group yesterday.

Speaking at the latest in a series of meetings attempting to force the issue back onto the political agenda before next month’s local and European elections, the group said more than 600 people are dying of drug addiction every year — almost two deaths a day.

However, spokesperson for the group, Anna Quigley, said services meant to be there to help those directly at risk are seeing their funding slashed.

“The current Government has implemented cuts of 37% to the drugs initiative budget and cuts of over 45% to community and voluntary sector groups. It has never explained why these cuts are far greater than the average level of cuts to public spending [which is 7.1%],” said Ms Quigley.

“All the evidence confirms our communities are now coping with an increasingly complex and chaotic drug problem that includes a mix of legal drugs, illegal drugs and alcohol.

“Heroin use is continuing to grow in communities outside Dublin, along with high levels of poly-drug [multiple drugs at the same time] use... The risks attached to using and mixing drugs is reflected in the annual figures for drug-related deaths.

“Those elected in May should be lending their voice to the call for a review of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ approach.

“All the evidence points to the failure of the current approach and the need for an open and informed debate on decriminalisation and legislation.”

During a two-hour meeting at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin City, concerns were raised over how the country’s drug problem is now a national crisis which is no longer confined to urban areas. One speaker from the floor said “one in every 10” families in Sligo is affected and are “living in fear” of local dealers.

In a video statement to the conference, long-time community campaigner Fr Peter McVerry alleged the issue is further compounded by a “sort of institutional racism”, which is discriminating against people from poor areas seeking help.

The meeting was attended by People Before Profit Alliance TD Richard Boyd Barrett, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Independent TD Maureen O Sullivan. Also present was Labour TD Robert Dowds , who criticised coalition partner Fine Gael for its lack of attention to the issue.

However, despite representatives from all parties being asked to attend on a number of occasions over the past three weeks, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil sent no officials to the event.

While the conference organisers were given no explanation by Fine Gael, it is understood Fianna Fáil health spokesperson, Billy Kelleher, was due to attend, but had to cancel yesterday morning.