Addiction service highlights extent of heroin abuse

ALMOST three out of five young people attending one of the south’s largest addiction services are using heroin, compared to almost none three years ago.

The Matt Talbot Adolescent Services (MTAS) said urgent action is needed to tackle the “very frightening” upsurge in heroin use among teenagers.

Highlighting the gravity of the problem, MTAS manager Edel Foley said half of the 34 new referrals to their treatment service had tried to kill themselves in the months prior to admission. Ms Foley said 57% of 18 to 23-year-olds attending the Trabeg Services in MATS were currently smoking heroin as part of a mixture of drugs there were taking.