Drug use - Middle class are silent drug culprits

ASTONISHING is the best description of research into the detection of illicit drug use which found 100% of a sample of bank notes in circulation in the greater Dublin area were contaminated with cocaine.

This amazing outcome goes a long way towards confirming the assertion of Justice Minister Michael McDowell that people snorting cocaine in leafy middleclass suburbs bear responsibility for gangland murders.

Ironically, the highest cocaine residues were found on €20 and €50 bank notes, as compared to €5 and €10.

The results bear out the views succinctly expressed by President Mary McAleese who holds that a major component of what she terms the “pyramidical” problem of gangland killings involves “people with good jobs, a great social life and a fancy car outside the door, who are probably out tonight or last night, who were doing cocaine, who think it is a really smart thing to do”.

The provenance of this research is beyond question as it was carried out at DCU’s National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR) which specialises in sensor technology used in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and other industrial applications. Using a technique involving chromatography/mass spectrometry, 45 bank notes of €5, €10, €20 and €50 denominations were analysed for cocaine contamination. Interestingly, the cotton structure of the euro notes absorbs chemical residues and the results show all the notes in the sample were positive for cocaine contamination while heroin was present on three notes.

Forensically, contamination occurs whenever direct contact between the note and the drug takes place. This can happen either when people snort cocaine through a rolled-up banknote, when drugs are being transferred by dealers, or through cross-contamination of notes during the counting process in financial institutions.

According to researcher Jonathan Bones the project was the largest sample of notes ever used in an experiment of this kind in Ireland. While a larger sample would give a more representative view of cocaine use in our society, the number used is sufficient from which to draw conclusions.

Apparently, the most recent survey in the US showed 65% of dollar notes were contaminated with cocaine. That makes the 100% rate uncovered in the DCU project all the more alarming.

Without any doubt it reflects a widespread use of drugs in an Ireland that boasts unprecedented wealth. Unfortunately, the economy’s Celtic Tiger image has turned this country into a prime target for the international drug trade. Inevitably, this trend is reflected in the appalling increase in murders and gangland killings.

Tragically, the deaths of innocent young mothers like Donna Cleary and Baiba Saulite, along with that of plumber Anthony Campbell, illustrate the growing disregard for life by thugs who are busy killing each other and terrorising local communities into the bargain. The DCU results reflect the inexorable spread of cocaine which has become a major problem as evidenced by the growing number of addicts using drug treatment centres in Dublin.

Behind the debate on how to tackle this crisis, including mounting calls for liberalising soft drugs, the stark reality is that the Republic’s drug trade is now worth €1 billion. There can be no disputing claims that the level of culpability for Ireland’s drug culture is much more broadly based than people are prepared to admit.

Conceivably, yesterday’s hauls in Dublin and Mayo, were aimed mainly at middle-class users. They must accept responsibility for murder since they create the market for greedy and vicious dealers who prey on vulnerable victims and profit on drug addiction.