"Cocaine Is Available At Every Cross Roads In Ireland"

Tuesday, 22 March 2022 09:47

By Caoimhe Harney

A Senior Addiction Counsellor has said cocaine use is on the rise in every town and village.

The number of people who've been treated for cocaine addiction has tripled in six years, with experts raising particular concern around its growth in rural areas.

Michael Guerin of addiction centre Cuan Mhuire commented: “Cocaine will probably go down in history as the drug that broke the socio-economic demographic boundary that everybody perceived.

"Even though there is still a higher prevalence of drug abuse in areas of poorer education and higher unemployment, that is becoming progressively less pronounced because of the widespread use and availability of cocaine.

"Cocaine is urban, it's rural and has cracked the social classes," he said.

"Cocaine is perceived to be far less harmful than other drugs.

"But the addictive potential of cocaine is far greater

"Without any hard evidence, I would say that anecdotally cocaine is available at every cross roads in Ireland," he insisted.

Guerin has told KFM that some children are coming in contact with cocaine as young as 15 years old.

Irish addiction counsellors say that cocaine is 'easier to order online than pizza' in rural Ireland.

A former cocaine addict has said he could get a supply of drugs delivered "within 15 minutes" through social media.

The GAA is currently considering a motion that would see all adult championship players take a mandatory alcohol, gambling and substance abuse course.

Michael Guerin of the addiction centre Cuan Mhuire in Limerick spoke to Clem Ryan on Tuesday morning's Kildare Today: