Pubdate: Sat, 21 Oct 2000
Source: Irish Times, The (Ireland)
Copyright: 2000 The Irish Times
Contact:  11-15 D'Olier St, Dublin 2, Ireland
Fax: + 353 1 671 9407
Website: http://www.ireland.com/
Author: Clare Murphy
Bookmark: Heroin http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm

LIBERTIES DRUG CRISIS HIGHLIGHTED

Heroin addiction in Dublin's south inner city is over eight times higher 
than in the rest of the city, a conference was told yesterday.

Mr Vincent Doherty, co-ordinator of the area's Local Drugs Task Force, said 
a recent report estimated 17.5 per cent of 15-24 year old males in the area 
were heroin addicts.

This compared to an overall Dublin average of 2.1 per cent and a European 
average of 0.3 per cent.

He was speaking at "Re-creating Hope", a conference reviewing the fight 
against drugs in the Liberties area. Voluntary workers, professionals and 
local people affected by drugs attended. He said the drugs problem was 
fuelled by underlying factors. "Current levels of resources are only a drop 
in the ocean to what is required to turn around the major social problems 
involved.

"The south inner city is a special case. It has the highest density of 
local authority housing estates in the State. It has the highest 
concentration of poverty, heroin use and heroin-related illnesses, not just 
in the State but in Europe," he added. Mr Gary Broderick of the Anna Livia 
Project said hepatitis C was becoming more prevalent among heroin addicts 
and was now a more serious risk than HIV.

Mr Chris Flood TD, the former minister of state responsible for the 
National Drugs Strategy from 1997-99, opened the conference. He said the 
current review of the national strategy should focus on the community.

Resources for projects involving local people must be guaranteed. "If the 
resources are not put in, words mean nothing."

Mr Flood said the local drugs task forces, 12 in the Dublin area, one in 
Bray and another in Cork, allowed the community a "significant voice" 
alongside the statutory agencies.

He said rehabilitation was also important and called on employers in the 
public and private sector to become involved.
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