International drug use - Ireland’s love affair with drugs

DESPITE heartening claims in the latest UN report on the world-wide drug market, of significant progress in containing the problem, it would be wrong to be complacent.

That point is graphically illustrated in the case of Ireland’s growing love affair with drugs. Far from declining here, the crisis is escalating.

This applies particularly to cocaine use which has increased dramatically in the Republic in recent years. Based on garda estimates that seizures represent about one-tenth of the amount being trafficked, Ireland now has a major cocaine problem.