The Croi Nua project in the Addiction Response Crumlin team also expressed concern that a growing number of families are being threatened by drug dealers over unpaid debts.
Croi Nua is the country’s main treatment facility for crack cocaine and cocaine addicts. Co-ordinator Susan Collins said the past year witnessed the number of clients presenting with crack cocaine addiction increase from 20 in January last year to 50 people.
She said the economic downturn could lead to more people using crack as it creates a longer-lasting high than cocaine.
However, Ms Collins said that cocaine use in general had also been on the rise in the Dublin 12 area.
“We have seen a 60% increase in crack cocaine in Dublin 12 in the last year,” she said.
“People are getting more in debt to the dealer than ever before and families are being intimidated to pay back the debts.
“Whether it is cocaine or heroin users, they are getting in debt up to €50,000 and they are struggling to pay off the dealers.”
Ms Collins said, in many cases, family members had to club together to pay off the debts although she was not aware of anyone being physically attacked over a drug debt.
“We are sitting here feeling helpless,” she said.
“This did not happen in the ’90s that families were being threatened.”
The project has taken on a second worker to meet demand and has also instigated Saturday sessions with addicts in the area.
Ms Collins said that problems persisted in the area regarding young children becoming involved in drug dealing, and there were fears that crystal meth might also take hold in parts of Dublin.
“There are 10-year-olds dealing, out there in the community, and being dragged into it without their parents’ knowledge,” she said. “I would be worried if crystal meth takes hold — we have seen a number of people using it,” she added.
Insp Declan Meade of Crumlin Gardaí, who is also a member of the local drugs task force, said there had been an increase in the number of drug detections in the area in 2008, although this could be attributed to increased Garda activity.
He also said anyone being intimidated over unpaid debts were unlikely to contact the police.
Similarly, he said: “The amount of juveniles we come across with drugs for sale or supply is tiny, but that is not to say that it is not happening.”
Source: Noel Baker, The Irish Examiner, 23/01/2009
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