Hard drugs growth ‘linked with roads out of Dublin’

UNDERDEVELOPED transport links between Waterford and Dublin may explain why the city’s drug problem is largely confined to cannabis use, a local drugs expert has suggested.

Regional drugs co-ordinator Tony Barden said the drug problem in Waterford remains largely confined to the supply and use of “soft drugs” such as cannabis and alcohol, while the levels of heroin and cocaine use are the lowest in the south-east.

“Waterford still has an issue with the use of cannabis; other areas have moved on to harder drugs,” he said.

“Waterford is not developing as fast down that road and is not the worst area - compared to north Wexford and Carlow, where there has been a rise in heroin and cocaine use,” he said. This trend could be explained by the improved transportation links between Dublin and commuter towns such as Gorey and Carlow. The supply of drugs to Waterford, meanwhile, is tied more closely to Cork.

“The increase in the growth of hard drugs is linked with the roads out of Dublin,” he explained. “It appears that the nearer you get to Dublin, the more hard drugs that will be in supply,” he added.

Mr Barden was speaking after the publication of figures by the Health Research Board which showed Waterford had the highest rate of new cannabis cases being treated between 1998 and 2002.

While agreeing there was increased use of cannabis, Mr Barden said the figures also showed people with a drug problem were now coming forward and using the services on offer.