Pubdate: Wed, 08 Nov 2006
Source: Kilkenny People (Ireland)
Copyright: 2006 Kilkenny People
Contact:  http://www.kilkennytoday.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4345

KILKENNY AWASH WITH HARD DRUGS

'HARD drugs' such as cocaine and heroin are rampant in the city as 
drug users turn away from cannabis and ecstasy in favour of stronger 
drugs, warned leading solicitor and Fianna Fail councillor Michael Lanigan.

"These guys are selling cocaine on the weekend and heroin throughout 
the week," the Fianna Fail representative said. "When you have 
persons dealing heroin, you have a problem of immense proportions."

Cllr Lanigan said it was essential that Kilkenny respond to the 
growing use of hard drugs. "That is going to have a more profound 
effect on community safety and crime than trying to put up CCTV 
cameras everywhere."

"Catastrophic"

"We are already in the midst of a serious problem but it could reach 
catastrophic proportions," he added.

About a month ago gardai found a major haul of cannabis resin coming 
into the city. It was the first such instance involving cannabis "in 
many, many months" and "ecstasy is almost unheard of", Cllr Lanigan said.

Instead the focus has shifted to heroin and amphetamines, he said.

"The bottom line is this: There is an amount of work being done to 
stop the next set of people (starting to use drugs) but there is a 
whole set of people at the moment who, if they want to get treatment, 
have to go on a waiting list," he said.

There is also the related issue of people buying and selling 
methadone, which is used in treating heroin addiction. Methadone has 
become a hot commodity, as there is such a long wait for treatment 
for heroin addicts.

"If you manage to get on a methadone programme you have something 
that is saleable," Cllr Lanigan said. This means some people continue 
their heroin use and make money by selling methadone to other users.

Valium

There is also a growing market for valium, he said, because for 
heroin addicts "it is the only thing that can stop you feeling sick."

The number of people being brought to St Luke's Hospital suffering 
from drugs-related illness is also increasing, Cllr Lanigan said. In 
particular there was one batch of heroin brought into the city 
recently which started firing up into people's faces when they tried 
to smoke it.

"I have seen three or four young lads in the courts in the last few 
weeks who I would have known for many years, and they are dying," the 
solicitor said. "There are people who have lost three, four, five 
stone - and they were not heavy."

Cllr Lanigan made the comments following an update of RAPID Kilkenny 
projects, by Ronan Ryan at the Co Council's Kilkenny electoral area 
meeting on Monday. RAPID is a government initiative to improve the 
lives of people living in marginalised urban areas.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine