Response to heroin crisis ‘repeating old mistakes’

By Fiachra O Cionnaith

Friday, July 10, 2009

GOVERNMENT officials have been accused of repeating the mistakes of Dublin’s 1980s heroin epidemic by failing to tackle the massive surge in cases in Cork over the past five years.

Since 2004, the number of heroin-related incidents in the city has jumped by more than 400%, reaching 159 drug finds last year.

The situation, highlighted by the Irish Examiner, reached national attention after four suspected deaths from heroin in the city since the start of June alone and a 200% rise in the number of people seeking treatment for the addiction last year.

The Department of Health said it is addressing the problem by making drug treatment programmes available across the country.

But hitting out at the lack of action by the cabinet, Fine Gael’s Deirdre Clune said gardaí and communities are without the necessary support to address the crisis.

And claiming that Government ministers are "fooling" themselves by stating appropriate action is being taken, the Cork-based TD added that unless steps were immediately taken, the same mistakes of the 1980s epidemic will continue to be repeated.

"The gardaí set up a dedicated heroin unit in Cork in 2006 in response to the growing problem. The Government’s response, however, has been belated at best," she said. "They have put in one additional GP in Arbour House, and additional methadone services are only now being developed in the city.

"Despite what the Government is willing to admit, all the evidence on the ground points to a serious heroin problem that is rapidly getting worse.

"Until they face up to the current reality on the ground the situation will continue to get worse, lives will be devastated and the city as a whole will suffer."

Lord mayor of Cork, Cllr Dara Murphy, said he was treating the drugs crisis as one of his top priorities.

Discussions have begun with GPs and the HSE in an attempt to have methadone prescribed to addicts at GP clinics, he said. "We need to tackle the problem urgently and learn a lesson from cities like Dublin," he said.

"There could perhaps be a possibility that heroin users meeting certain criteria could be treated by their own GP, who could prescribe methadone for them.

"But it is important to stress that this is all a matter for discussion. We are making this an urgent matter."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, July 10, 2009