City sees destructive surge in heroin use

THE number intravenous heroin addicts in Limerick has spiralled to nearly 600 from a figure of “almost zero” four years ago.

The disclosure came yesterday from one of the most senior officers in the city, Supt Frank O’Brien.

The Henry Street-based superintendent said that up to 2006, there was no visible intravenous heroin abuse in the city.

“It’s gone from zero or what would have been a very insignificant figure. Since 2006, that was a watershed year regarding the use of heroin becoming visible in the city. At that point it was smoking.”

Supt O’Brien said extra resources have been put into the fight against illegal drugs in the city and up to June there was a 20% increase from June 2009 in the number of drug arrests. This followed on increases in drugs arrests of 30% in June 2009 and 21% the previous year.

He said: “Over the past two years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of heroin addicts using the drug intravenously. That wouldn’t be unique to Limerick, it shows the progression... in the use of heroin from smoking to intravenous use. It is a matter of great concern to us.”

Supt O’Brien said the increased use of heroin has had a huge impact on crime, with addicts resorting to robbery to fund their habit.

“It feeds into all that sort of crime: burglaries, shop lifting, theft from cars, handbag snatching,” he said.

Limerick’s major feud gangs are among the prime movers in the sale of drugs in Limerick and the wider Munster area.

“Well-known criminal gangs are deeply involved in the supply of drugs. The drugs trade is very lucrative and these people snare vulnerable people in the community, creating a drugs dependency, bringing death and destruction,” he said.

Extra gardaí have been deployed to drugs duties at Roxboro Road and Mayorstone Garda stations and Supt O’Brien said these units back the divisional drugs squad based at Henry Street. Four of the six head shops which had been operating in the city have been closed since the introduction of new legislation.

He said they closely monitor substances which are offered for sale on head shops.