Government failing to tackle growing national cocaine crisis

COCAINE use is booming across the country and across all social groups with devastating impact, according to a raft of official figures.

Statistics on drug-related crime, drug seizures, treatment data and hospital admissions all show a massive rise in the supply and use of cocaine.

Community groups yesterday accused the Government of failing to respond to the problem and said they had warned of the impending cocaine crisis more than four years ago.

A new report on cocaine published yesterday found:

Cocaine-related offences jumped by 580% between 2000 and 2005

Number of drug seizures rose by 370%

Volume of drugs seized spiralled by 1250%

Number of people receiving treatment for cocaine as their main drug rose by 260%

Number of people receiving treatment for cocaine as a secondary drug jumped by 2,200%.

“It is clear that all the indicators point to a continued increase in cocaine use,” said Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD). “Cocaine use crosses all social strata and the impact is very much experienced nationwide.”

He spelt out its impact: “Communities are experiencing the consequences in sharp increases in public disturbance, noise, intimidation and violence.

“Individuals are experiencing the consequences in terms of disrupted personal relationships, employment, income as well as physical and mental health.”

The report, a joint effort between the NACD and the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST), recommended that cocaine-specific services be set up in areas of greatest need. It called for more training of frontline staff and information campaigns telling users that treatment worked.

Anna Quigley of the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign said it was “clear” the Government still wasn’t listening to communities.

“In 2002, over 40 community representatives from across Dublin said there was a problem with cocaine. Not until 2005 was there any official recognition, but they are still not listening to the communities.

“The Government is waiting for a crisis and waiting for official figures to show that, but official figures are way behind reality.”

Drugs Strategy Minister Noel Ahern rejected the claims and said services were there. He said the Health Service Executive was considering setting up two cocaine-specific clinics.

Patricia O’Connor, NDST director said there were three cocaine-specific projects in Dublin: in Tallaght, Crumlin and Ballyfermot. She said there was a need to make services more visible and attractive.

The report said international research suggested that around 5-6% of cocaine users became dependent in the first year of use. NACD research in 2003 showed that 3% of all adults, and almost 5% of young adults, had used cocaine at least once.