Plea to Minister for action on heroin problem in Galway

A local TD has pleaded with the Minister for Health to urgently tackle Galway’s worsening heroin problem.

Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív has also demanded to know what action is being taken to stop the deadly scourge, and in particular, its increase in usage among young people.

And he has also slammed funding cuts for the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforce.

According to the Department of Health, referrals to the local Methadone Treatment Clinic – which treats heroin and opiate abusers – are on the increase.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar told Deputy Ó Cuív: “The HSE has noted a recent increase in referrals to the methadone Treatment Clinic in Galway, but has not seen any evidence of an increase in heroin use among young people. The HSE has approved additional clinic hours to cater for the increase in client numbers.”

However, Deputy Ó Cuív branded the statement “contradictory”.

“These two statements would seem to be a clear contradiction of each other and perception on the ground is that the increased referrals relates to an increasing heroin addiction problem in the city of Galway,” he said.

Figures were released by the Minister which show that while this year’s funding for the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force remains the same as 2014 at €660,000, it is down from €702,000 in 2012, a drop of 6%.

The former Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs criticised the cuts.

“At the same time as there is this increase in referrals to the Methadone Treatment Clinic, there has been a drop in funding since 2012, from €702,000 to €661,000 for the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Taskforce.

“The move of responsibility for the drugs issue from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to the Health Service was a retrograde step, particularly in dealing with heroin abuse, which is very closely linked to social deprivation.

“During the period that responsibility for dealing with the drugs issue rested with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, a holistic view was taken to the whole problem of drug abuse and efforts were made to try and take an integrated approach to tackling the problem dealing.

“Not only with the symptoms of drug abuse, but the causes of it, particularly caused by social segregation and deprivation in the more disadvantaged areas,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.

On targeting younger people and drug misuse prevention, Minister Varadkar said: “Over €500,000 has been allocated by the HSE this year to the Jigsaw programme in the Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force area.

“This programme is designed to identify substance misuse issues at an early age and provide targeted health and psychosocial supports to young people affected by problem substance misuse.

“Other workers in the area, funded by the HSE, deliver education and prevention programmes to service providers who work with young people, communities and families. The HSE Drugs Counselling Service also caters for young people from the age of 16 upwards,” said Minister Varadkar.