More women than ever addicted to heroin, says HSE official

Heroin use in Limerick has reached an all-time high with an estimated 800 addicts in the city and wider region compared to about 100 in 2002.

According to the HSE Mid-West co-ordinator of drugs and alcohol services, Rory Keane, there are more young women than ever addicted to the drug, which is primarily centred in Limerick City.

“We feel heroin addiction in the city has become quite deep-seated.”

He said the number of female addicts in Limerick has risen from 25% to 40% of the total number.

“This is one of the areas in which we have seen a marked change in terms of young women in their early 20s, who are very vulnerable, presenting and engaging with our service.

“If you step back and look at it in terms of the economics of it: Whenever you have a recession, the people who tend to be hit most hardest are the most vulnerable: women and children.

“So I would feel that is one of the factors that’s contributing to us seeing more young women presenting to the service.”

Given the demographics of Limerick City, Mr Keane said heroin use had now grown as high as it could for a city of its size and demand was beginning to plateau.

Mr Keane said an improvement in HSE methadone services had seen the numbers entering this treatment programme rise from 194 in 2008 to 276 last year.

Of that number, about 30% live in Clare and North Tipperary and the remainder in Limerick city and county.

“Up to two years ago, we had a waiting time of about seven months to cope with people who wanted to enter the methadone programme.

“We have the resources now and our target would be to assess and initiate somebody within three or four weeks, which has been a very positive.”

Mr Keane said they estimate that for every person on treatment, there could up to four others taking heroin.

However, he said his own belief was that this ratio was not as high in Limerick.

“Since 2009, we have averaged around 270 clients in treatment for heroin problems each year. Over that time we have seen an expansion of our service and we don’t have a big issue or waiting list, but what we are seeing in the Mid-West is the numbers of heroin addicts plateau.”

Mr Keane said last year there was a big shortage of heroin, but addicts do not now have a problem accessing the drug in Limerick.