Families of drug users living in fear

NINE-out-of-10 community drug projects in Dublin said violent and gun-related crime had worsened, according to a new survey.

Local groups said users and their families were living in fear of dealers and moneylenders.

The survey said families attending one project in west Dublin were scared their children would be shot or killed and were in hiding.

Another project is dealing with families of clients murdered because of a cocaine debt.

The research found that addicts were developing huge financial debts to pay dealers and that their families were in turn getting into debt to bail them out.

The survey reported a worsening cocaine problem in disadvantaged areas of Dublin, with projects increasingly concerned about the physical and mental health impact.

The survey, carried out by the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, found that:

* 90% of projects reported an increase in crime and violent/gun-related crime.

* Intimidation and threats to the community linked to drug dealing was a major problem.

* Financial debt among individuals and their families was the biggest concern.

The survey found that 62% of projects were now seeing clients with cocaine as their main drug of choice, compared to just 14% in 2004. In addition, 50% of projects were seeing an overall increase in cocaine use among their clients since 2004.

Almost 40% of projects reported a sharp rise in clients with abscesses and wounds because of poor injecting habits.

Mental health problems included depression, anxiety, stress, psychotic episodes and attempted suicide. Two cases of amputations were reported. One project said they were aware of four deaths from cocaine in the past year.

The survey said families of users were living in fear.

Projects said dealers and moneylenders had threatened to burn down the homes of some families.

The survey said cocaine use was causing family breakdown at a much quicker rate than with heroin.

Projects said users were engaging in increasing criminal activity to pay for cocaine.

Ten out of the 28 projects said they were aware crack was available and being used locally, with five projects working with crack users.

Citywide co-ordinator Anna Quigley said it was “unbelievable” that the budget for the National Drugs Strategy had not increased given the impact of the crisis on communities.