Drug users affecting businesses
Dublin People 29 Oct 2011
CONCERNED business owners have claimed that large
numbers of drug users attending clinics in the city centre are having an
adverse impact on the local economy.
The issue was raised by Southside TD, Kevin Humphreys
(Lab), after he was contacted by a number of prominent business groups in the
city centre who feel that the drug clinics, particularly those that provide
methadone, are deterring people from shopping in areas where they are
located.
Deputy Humphreys has argued that such clinics should
instead be relocated to the suburbs. He has raised the issue in the Dail in an
effort to establish the number of drug users being treated for addiction
problems at the clinics, particularly those located on Pearse Street, Trinity
Court and on Merchant’s Quay.
He has called on Health Minister, Dr James Reilly, to provide
a breakdown of the number of people who attend the clinics, including those who
live outside Dublin.
However, the HSE has indicated that the figures will
not be made available until next week.
“The issue of the high number of people attending drug
clinics is definitely impacting on local businesses,
? Deputy Humphreys said.
“People are intimidated by the large groups of methadone users who are
gathering in the city. I think the best way to treat this problem is to offer
localised treatments for people so they don’t have to travel to these clinics.
?
He added:
“The problem will be made worse by the fact
that there are a lot of vulnerable addicts attending these clinics who may be
tempted into buying drugs from people selling them near the clinics.
?
Richard Guiney, the spokesman for the Business
Improvement District (BID), felt that locating large clinics in the city centre
was not the best way of dealing with the problem.
“We would be looking abroad at a system whereby people
with drug problems are treated by their local GP,
? he said.
“People could be
stabilised on methadone in a local pharmacy, which would be a much more cost
effective way of approaching the problem.
“By having a number of large facilities quite close to
each other – there are about three within a mile or so of O’Connell Bridge –
creates a drug market because a lot of people come into one location.
?
He added:
“By having so many addicts in close
proximity means that this environment brings in people who are not using the
drug rehab facilities themselves.
“We would be aware of people coming out of clinics who
are regularly approached by drug pushers.
?
Tony Geoghegan, the chief executive of the Merchant’s
Quay drug clinic, said that although he understood the point made by business
owners, he suggested the issue was a lot more complex than people realised.
“Drug users being drawn to cities is a natural
phenomena that happens throughout the world,
? he said.
“I understand the
argument that the high volume of drug users in an area could impact on tourism
and businesses, but the main solution would be to localise services.
?
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