Drugs contagion is spreading: what’s new?

SO those attending what you call “a major drug conference” in Dublin were told gang warfare would “spread over the country” (October 20).

What planet are the people who attended that conference living on if this statement was received as ‘news’.

“One leading drug worker” predicted there would be gang feuds all over the country within five years. Was this regarded as real news? Surely everyone involved in public life, policing, or indeed ordinary social activities, must know this ominous trend is a given. I tried to get my voice heard at this meeting, stating that I would advocate the decriminalisation of all illegal drugs. Needless to say, no invitation was granted. If we wish to avoid what is happening in Mexico – which is slowly becoming a failed state due to the so-called war on drugs – we must realise Ireland is heading for a similar fate.

In Mexico, more than 29,000 people have been murdered in the past four years in the drugs war. We must begin a serious debate on the need to decriminalise all illegal drugs across Europe.

Vincent J Lavery

Chair

Decriminalise Illegal Drugs

Coliemore Road

Dalkey

Co Dublin