Carey welcomes family’s appeals to ‘say no’ to drugs

DRUGS strategy minister Pat Carey yesterday welcomed appeals from the family of cocaine victim Kevin Doyle to young people to “say no” to drugs.

The minister of state said the message, delivered at the funeral of the 21-year-old Waterford man, might “awaken” in those who had been complacent about drugs the dangers involved.

Mr Carey also extended his condolences to the family and friends of 24-year-old Katy French, who died in hospital on Thursday night, amid reports that cocaine played a part in her death.

Mr Carey was speaking yesterday at the opening of a remembrance garden dedicated to people who lost their lives to drug use.

The garden is located at Merchant Quay Ireland’s St Francis Farm residential drug treatment programme in Tullow, Co Carlow.

The minister said he was moved by an eulogy at Kevin Doyle’s funeral mass, by Eric, Kevin’s brother. Eric said: “Our family didn’t think it would happen to us and Kevin, above all, did not believe it was going to happen to him. If there’s one message today, it’s that it can and will happen to you, to me, to anybody who takes chances with drugs. Don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk. Say no.

“I welcome a statement like that,” said Mr Carey.

“You have to continually re-organise how the message is disseminate. That why I’m using Bebo, Facebook and localised campaigns in different centres and programmes devised by young people themselves.

“I think it will be a slow process but maybe, just maybe this might start to awaken in some people who may up till now be complacent about the whole issue of the extent of drug misuse into the need to be constantly on the alert.

“Obviously in relation to Katy French all I will say is to extend my condolences to her family. Anybody of 24 years of age, it’s a shock to the family that they die at such a young age. She was somebody who had enormous potential and a great life ahead of her. I extend my sympathies to her family and friends.”

But he cautioned people to wait for test results before linking her death with drugs. “I wouldn’t encourage speculation.”

Merchants Quay director Tony Geoghegan said: “Every day we seem to hear of yet another young person dying as a result of drug use. The tragic loss of a brother or sister, son or daughter at a time when you should be full of hope for their future is devastating for families.”

Yesterday, the minister opened the Vault in Carlow, a centre aimed at providing a space for young people, some of whom may have experienced the effects of drug misuse.