Report shows rise in number of heroin users

NEW
figures have shown a rise in the number of Dublin heroin users in 2010.

Merchants
Quay Ireland worked with 4,308 drug users in the capital last year, including
575 new injectors attending needle exchange clinics.

Speaking
to Southside People, the chief executive of Merchants Quay Ireland, Tony
Geoghegan, said the figures averaged at over 10 new drug users per week,
highlighting the fact that demand for drugs remains constant even when they are
in short supply.

The
report also confirmed a dramatic rise in homelessness, which Mr Geoghegan said
was strongly linked to drug use.

“We
provided almost 58,000 meals for homeless people last year, compared to just
under 46,000 in 2009,

? he said.

“That’s an increase of over 26 per cent in
homelessness.

“And,
over a third of admissions to our residential drug treatment programme in
Drumcondra last year were clients who were previously homeless.

?

Merchants
Quay Ireland’s 2010 Annual Review was launched by Dublin Deputy, Róisín
Shortall, Junior Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy.

Speaking
at the launch, Mr Geoghegan pointed to what he described as a chronic need for
evening services in Dublin for homeless people.

“Due
to the complete lack of evening services in the city, Merchants Quay Ireland
and Focus Ireland jointly established a new service for homeless people in July
2010,

? he said.

“By December last year, there was an average of 138 people
attending every evening.

“As
the economic recession continues, demand for our homeless and drugs services is
growing rapidly, yet finances are contracting,

? he added.

“Our response has
been to expand and develop our services on the tightest possible budget to meet
this need.

?

Mr
Geoghegan also emphasised research showing that drug treatment has been proven
to work, both on the human and economic level.

“Evidence
from the British Home Office’s review of drug treatment outcomes found that for
every £1 spent on drug treatment, there was a £3 saving in criminal justice
costs alone,

? he pointed out.

“When
health and welfare savings were included, the saving rises to £9.50.

?

The
organisation has increased its national bed detox capacity by 30 per cent, and
will shortly open a new 10-bed detox unit in St Francis Farm facility in
Tullow, County Carlow.