Drug gangs increasingly using children

Growing numbers of rival drug gangs in Dublin city centre are using children to thwart Garda crackdowns, according to a report.

Dealers are also using bicycles and the Luas, and are carrying smaller amounts of drugs to evade Garda attempts to clean up the city.

Abuse of prescription drugs — now prevalent across the entire country — is contributing to “dis-inhibition and vocal street intimidation of passersby” by users.

These are among the findings of research for a report on substance misuse-related antisocial behaviour in Dublin city centre. The report, A Better City for All, was the work of a group comprising of drug treatment centres, gardaí, business interests, homeless groups, Dublin City Council, and local drug taskforces.

Chairman of the strategic response group, Johnny Connolly, said drug treatment centres were often wrongly blamed for antisocial behaviour in the city and said the issues would be “far worse” if those services were not there for drug users.

However, he said the report did recommend: More treatment services, mainly through GPs, in local areas; the opening of the four centres in the city centre during lunchtime; and the development of “good neighbour” protocols by the treatment centres.

The report called on gardaí to be given the legal power to prosecute people for dealing in prescription drugs.