Dublin anti-drugs campaigner warns of national problem

The Assistant Director of the Merchant's Quay Project in Dublin is warning that the substance abuse problem in the rest of the country may be worse than many people realise.

The project works with those affected by drugs and with the homeless.

Mary O'Shea says she is concerned that many people are still in denial about the extent of the drug problem nationally.

"The frightening thing is that sometimes people will say, 'well its ok if its alcohol along as it is not drugs'. Alcohol is a very lethal drug in itself. I think that maybe you have different ranges of problems throughout the country. There might be more of a culture of dance drugs, ecstasy, stuff like that in various parts of the country but that is not to say that there is not heroin in existence in other parts of the country."