DECRIMINALISATION of drug use in Portugal has not made the country a "paradise" for users or resulted in more children taking drugs, according to the country's drugs chief. Dr Joao Goulao said the policy was part of a comprehensive strategy which has led to reduced drug consumption among adolescents, falling heroin use and a reduced burden on the criminal justice system. Junior Health Minister Roisin Shortall, who is in charge of Ireland's drugs strategy, said she had an "open mind" in relation to Portugal's model. She said she was "particularly interested" in the country's "yellow card" system, which warned users about their behaviour and tried to steer them away from drugs. [continues 391 words]
SOCIETY needs to make a distinction between drug use and drug misuse and should consider the legal supply of drugs. This call was made by veteran homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry in a speech at a conference on drugs last night. Fr McVerry said adults should take a "long and critical" look at their own drug use, namely alcohol and prescription drugs, such as valium. "It is hypocritical to expect our young people to stay away from drugs, when we adults won't," he told the conference, organised by the Addiction Training Institute. [continues 465 words]
THE minister in charge of the drugs strategy has "serious concerns" about this year's cocaine awareness campaign, which cost in the region of UKP500,000. John Curran conceded he has serious concerns that the state didn't get out the right message on cocaine to young people. "Certainly, I don't feel the campaign really delivered a strong enough message," said Mr Curran. "I'm not sure running a single drug campaign is the way to go, I've serious concerns about it." [continues 257 words]
A NATIONAL hotline to combat drug dealing is to be rolled out across the country from this autumn. The confidential phoneline is aimed at providing "intimidated communities" a safe way to pass on information anonymously about drug dealing in their areas, and indirectly, to gardai. The national programme is based on the success of two local initiatives in Dublin (in Blanchardstown and the north-inner city) which have assisted Garda inquiries, leading to the arrest of suspected dealers. The joint effort by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) and the Garda has received funding of E350,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund and the Department of Justice. [continues 228 words]
CANNABIS is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco, according to a major review published by the EU drugs agency. The report said most users cease smoking cannabis by their late 20s or early 30s and that the vast majority did not experience any negative effects. "On every comparison of dangerousness we have considered, cannabis is at or near the bottom in comparison with other psychoactive substances," said author Robin Room, in an analysis contained in a 700-page EU report on cannabis. [continues 346 words]
COCAINE is a "fun" and "feel-good" drug which users take with their friends, research has revealed. But most users say they are suffering financially and many admit cocaine is affecting their relationships. The survey shows cocaine users "greatly underestimate" the health and personal risks from the drug. The research contradicts the perception that drugs are "pushed" on young people, with the vast majority getting cocaine from friends. The survey is being published today to coincide with the launch of the National Drugs Awareness Campaign, which this year is focusing exclusively on cocaine. [continues 206 words]
THE last national drug awareness campaign was riddled with problems and ultimately "fell short" of its objectives, according to an independent review. The publication of the report comes as the Government prepares to launch its latest campaign against the background of a worsening drugs problem and a number of high-profile deaths, including Katy French. In a detailed study, the review said: * the campaign was badly limited by poor funding. * the steering committee "disintegrated" over time. * there was a lack of clarity about who the campaign was aimed at and what its objectives were. [continues 307 words]
DRUGS are cheaper than ever across Europe, including Ireland, according to an EU report. The drop in prices is despite the fact that greater quantities of drugs, particularly cocaine and heroin, are being seized by police and customs officials. The prices of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines have dropped in real terms by around 20%, on average across Europe, while the prices of heroin and ecstasy have dropped by almost 50%. That's according to a five-year analysis of the period 1999 to 2004 by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the first study of its type. [continues 261 words]
NO Irish Government is going to legalise cannabis because it causes cancer, a former Minister of State with responsibility for drugs said yesterday. Fianna Fail MEP Eoin Ryan said the State would end up being sued in the courts if it legalised cannabis, similar to tobacco companies being sued in relation to cigarettes. He was speaking at a conference in Dublin, which also heard calls from a retired US chief of police for an end to the war on drugs and a move towards legalisation. Mr Ryan said: a€oeWhat politician is going to get up and say legalise drugs. The problem is if a minister wanted to legalise cannabis, he would get endless amounts of medical evidence that cannabis is carcinogenic.a€ [continues 382 words]
THE number of people seeking treatment for cocaine abuse has doubled, according to new national figures. The data shows that 311 people reported cocaine as their main drug of abuse in 2003, compared to 155 in 2002. A further 2,244 people said cocaine was a secondary problem drug in addition to their main drug of abuse, such as heroin. This compares to 1,716 in 2002 an increase of 30%. The two figures combined show that 2,555 people reported cocaine as one of their problem drugs in 2003, compared to 1,871 in 2002. [continues 353 words]
EIGHT out of 10 people who use cannabis get their drugs from friends or family, new research shows. A national survey found only 4% of cannabis users bought or were given the drug by strangers. "This information contradicts the popular view of the dealer as someone completely unknown to the user," said Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD). The NACD research shows that 78% of people who used cannabis recently were either given the drug by family or friends, bought it from a friend or shared the drug among friends. [continues 264 words]
REHABILITATION of drug addicts is the new priority of the Government's national drugs strategy, as figures show that the number being treated with methadone has more than doubled. Alcohol will not become part of the strategy, despite calls from community and voluntary groups as well as medical experts that it be included. With more than 7,500 recovering heroin addicts on methadone maintenance, the Government said it needs to provide these people with more than just a substitute drug. "Given the increase on the treatment side, from about 3,500 people to over 7,500, we need to be doing more with those people," said one source. [continues 202 words]
ORGANISED criminals in Ireland know each other and often co-operate in conducting criminal activities, according to a major new report. This makes Ireland virtually unique in Europe and partly explains why foreign nationals are not yet significant players in organised crime here. But the 2004 European Union Organised Crime Report warns that certain ethnic organised crime (OC) groups, such as the Chinese, are becoming increasingly active throughout the EU. Ireland, which has a significant Chinese community, has already seen the involvement of Chinese gangs in areas such as people smuggling, extortion, prostitution and the production of synthetic drugs. [continues 291 words]
ANTI-DRUG campaigners and medical experts here and abroad yesterday rejected claims that ecstasy was not as dangerous as had been believed. Three British psychologists said ecstasy did not cause long-term health problems contrary to a vast volume of studies. Responding, Grainne Kenny of Europe Against Drugs said: "The studies are there and show ecstasy causes brain damage and depression and those studies have been very carefully done." Dr Jim Donovan of the State Forensic Science Laboratory said ecstasy damaged the production of serotonin the chemical that gives the 'feel good' experience. [continues 207 words]
IRELAND has the highest levels of ecstasy and amphetamine use in western Europe, according to a UN report. The study, Global Illicit Trends 2002, estimates 66,000 (2.4%) people aged 15 and over take ecstasy at least once a year. The report estimates that 72,000 (2.6%) people take amphetamines, commonly known as speed. The UN study found, of the 23 countries in western Europe, Ireland also has the: Joint highest use of cannabis, with Britain. Third highest use of cocaine. [continues 403 words]
THE Department of Justice yesterday ruled out changes in drug laws following calls for the Government to follow Britain's example in making possession of cannabis a non-arrestable offence. "The evidence from Britain would certainly suggest the Government should look at this issue again," said Liam Herrick of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. "Police there felt an excessive amount of time was being spent on an issue that doesn't have any obvious social harms and was hampering police ability to tackle more serious drug-related crime." [continues 319 words]
THE value of drugs seized by customs officials jumped by more than 500% last year, with (euro)60.6m worth discovered in 2001. The bulk of the rise was due to an increase of more than 10,000% in seizures of herbal cannabis, the lesser used but more potent type of the drug. "We've had a highly successful year in the drugs area, but we're not complacent. This is a very difficult trade to intercept," said Frank Daly, chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. [continues 385 words]
Tough anti-drugs legislation is pulling families apart, a conference heard yesterday. Traumatised parents are being forced to either kick their addict son or daughter out of the family home or be evicted themselves. "Parents are having to evict their own children, putting them out on the streets. This is putting them through unimaginable trauma," said Cathal Holland, a community development worker in Ballymun, Dublin. "Families are being torn apart and parents are living with extreme guilt, because once a kid is put out of the home they are lost to the family." [continues 323 words]
GARDAI and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) are to launch a major crackdown on local drug dealers across the country. In an expansion of Operation Cleanstreet, CAB will target the assets of known drug dealers. Local Garda drug units will also be given additional resources. Several hundred street suppliers have been brought before the courts, primarily in Dublin, under Operation Cleanstreet since its inception over six years ago. As part of the undercover operation, detectives buy drugs from dealers and later arrest them. Its success has prompted Justice Minister John O'Donoghue to widen the scope of the operation. [continues 272 words]
PRISON officers are objecting to plans to distribute syringe-cleaning tablets to jailed heroin addicts. Wardens say the bleach tablets will not clean syringes of the most dangerous and widespread disease - hepatitis. They fear the next step will be to distribute clean syringes, which officers say is like giving out a loaded gun. "Prison officers have a huge concern. If you introduce bleach tablets to clean syringes, one thing it won't clean is the most dangerous virus, hepatitis C," said Prison Officers' association president Eugene Dennehy. "We're concerned that the next logical step, not today or tomorrow, but two or three years down the road, is a needle exchange in prison. This needle is worse than a loaded gun to our guys." An estimated 70% of intravenous drug-users in prison have hepatitis C. [continues 313 words]
