Students' Union survey - We cannot deny our drugs crisis

FOR years, the Gardaí and other agencies operating at the coal face of the drugs problem have warned us about the insidious problem of drugs, ranging from the streets of our cities and towns to the scattered villages and small communities of rural Ireland. In no uncertain terms, the latest findings suggest that this country is already afflicted by one of the greatest scourges of modern society.

Judging by the findings of a survey among university students, the drugs culture is now deeply rooted among young people in this country. There is no disguising the alarming fact that the use of illegal drugs is on the increase with 51% of undergraduates smoking cannabis or using ecstasy for kicks.

Two aspects of the survey are particularly alarming: 11% of the students said they use drugs on a daily basis while 14% fear that they are already addicted.