Rehab boss urges decriminalisation of all illegal drugs

THE head of the country’s biggest drug centre is calling for the decriminalisation of the use of all drugs - including heroin.

The director of the Merchant’s Quay Project, Tony Geoghegan, said that labelling addicts as criminals reduces their chances of rehabilitation and introduces them to crime circles.

He said he did not want to see drugs legalised, but believed their misuse should no longer be dealt with under the criminal justice system. He said it should be treated as a health and social problem instead.