Galway faces up to scourge of drugs in every parish

GALWAY’S top Garda has highlighted the growing usage of drugs among young people – both in urban and rural areas – as one of the main policing and societal challenges to be faced up to.

Chief Superintendent, Tom Curley, told the Connacht Tribune that while the Gardaí were at the coalface in terms of dealing with the drugs problem in Galway, it was also a major issue for society that required a multi-agency approach.

“Every day on the ground, we are seeing the evidence of growing drug use and especially among young people. This is not just a problem for the cities and larger towns.

“Drugs are becoming more and more available in small towns and villages across the county – that is the reality that we must face up to,” said Tom Curley.

He warned that young people who consumed illegal drugs were putting their own health – and their futures – at stake in what was a high-risk activity.

“One phrase that continues to irk me is that of a ‘bad batch’. When it comes to illegal drugs there is no such thing as a ‘good batch’ – when illegal drugs are ingested, you’re putting your health, and potentially your life, on the line,” said Tom Curley.

He said that one of the unfortunate trends of better economic times in Ireland was the increased usage of so-called social drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and a number of other substances.

“We’ve observed previously during the Celtic Tiger era when, with more money knocking around, the use of drugs also increased and the same trend seems to be emerging again,” said the Chief Superintendent.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune – in the shops this Friday.