Wicklows Drug Issue
November 25th, 2000
The drug related problem on our streets is no longer a big city associated problem but reaches into the provinces with its small towns and villages. The statistics for proceedings commenced for Wicklow and Wexford combined in 1999 under the misuse of drugs act were: 28 cases for Cannabis, 110 for Cannabis Resin, 0 for Cannabis Plants, 1 for Heroin, 3 for LSD, 32 for
Drugs Problem
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Ecstasy, 19 for Amphetamines, 4 for Cocaine, and 4 for other substances. County Wicklow, which falls under the southeastern Region, fairs reasonably when the figures are compared proportionally to the other five grouped regions of the country.
However that's not to say Wicklow has no problem. The fact that crime figures are going down because of better crime detection and prevention belies the sad fact that drug related offences are on the increase. This is evident to anyone who cares to take a walk any weekend in any of the bigger urban area's in Wicklow. The hint of brisk trade abounds in public parks, public walkways, and parked cars. The truth is out there!
Ecstasy with 14.33% nationwide and 32 commenced legal proceedings in Wicklow is the second biggest statistic for drug related abuse after Cannabis Resin at 45.97% nationally and 110 commenced legal proceedings for the County. This drug appears to be more commonly taken among teenagers and its use is increasing annually. As if this were not bad enough the drug can have dramatic side effects and in some documented cases has been known to caused death.
The Garda for their part try and highlight the dangers of drug abuse and gave 114 drug lectures in County Wicklow and Wexford in 1999. Their concentrated efforts involved a 13% decrease compared to 1998 for the total number of lectures given nationally. This sadly was not the case for the Southeast were they increased their lectures by 9% in an attempt to stem what is now perceived to be a growing Ecstasy related problem. Trying to erase the nightmare of hard drugs from our streets will never be easy. The problem is international in its dimensions and related solutions. There really are no easy answers to another problem on the increasingly difficult path to ridding society of dangerous so-called "Social Drugs".
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