NOBODY in Cork is denying that heroin is gaining a steadier foothold in the city.

Ireland should establish a Drugs Safety Agency, similar to the Road Safety Authority model, if officials are serious about slashing drug-related deaths and changing attitudes to drug-taking in this country, according to Cork’s top garda.

Janet’s son Simon died a year ago from a heroin overdose.

‘Margaret’ would only go out under cover of darkness when her son was living at home.

‘Jack’ says you can buy heroin in Cork faster “than you’d get a pizza”.

“You can almost dial for heroin in Cork now,” says Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary.

The first time *Susan injected “one of the girls done it” for her.

THE relentless spread of drugs throughout Ireland, and their ready availability from one end of the country to the other, are worrying developments.