Girls, 15, prostituting for heroin

GIRLS as young as 15 are turning to prostitution to fund their heroin addiction, according to a disturbing report of drug use in the midlands.

The study found there are as many as 450 heroin addicts in Athlone and Portlaoise. The population of Athlone is just over 16,000, with 12,000 people living in Portlaoise.

A number of teenagers regularly travel to Dublin to fund their addiction through prostitution.