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.

Statistics show that in 2005, for instance, seizures of cocaine here almost doubled to 306kg, putting this country ahead of Austria, Turkey, Norway or Portugal. In contrast, in 2000, before the Celtic Tiger kicked in, barely 18kg of cocaine was seized in this country.

Frightening evidence of this country’s cocaine explosion is seen on a world map showing that only five countries had a major surge in cocaine use in 2005. Ireland’s policy of self-reporting puts the Republic among them. The others are Bolivia, Venezuela, El Salvador and Senegal, where cocaine use is endemic.

Moreover, 8,639kg of cannabis was seized here in 2005, more than in Russia, Germany or Denmark.

Globally, however, the picture is getting brighter, with strong evidence of stability of cultivation, production or consumption of almost every kind of illicit drug — cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamine.

It is encouraging that following a significant decline in Colombia, cultivation of coca for cocaine manufacture is falling in many South American countries.

However, although global demand for cocaine has stabilised, this is offset by the alarming increases in some European countries, notably Ireland.

Internationally, it appears people are finally heeding health warnings on the dangers of cannabis. For the first time in years, according to the report, there has not been an upward trend in the global production and consumption of cannabis.

What is worrying, however, is that opium production is now heavily concentrated in the southern provinces of war-torn Afghanistan. The province of Helmand alone is rapidly becoming the world’s biggest drug supplier, outstripping entire countries like Morocco or Colombia.

Thankfully, the so-called Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia is now almost opium free. But, as the report underlines, the persistent poverty in vulnerable rural areas of the globe remains a major problem.

It underlines the urgent need for alternative crops and viable income substitution for farmers constantly facing the temptation of cash-rich drug production.

Given the volatile nature of the drugs trade, and the vast fortunes made by ruthless criminals who prey on vulnerable people across the world, it is inevitable that progress made in some areas will be offset by negative trends elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the report suggests that overall, a point has been reached where the world drug situation has stabilised and is gradually being brought under control. With 25 million problem-drug users in the world, the challenge is enormous.

If Ireland’s growing epidemic is to be prevented, early detection and greater prevention efforts are vital. Better treatment for addiction is also crucial and must be integrated into the Government’s public health and social welfare programmes in order to get to the heart of this appalling problem — the drug users themselves.