HEROIN ADDICTION SPREADS BEYOND CITIES AND TOWNS

Heroin abuse is on the increase, with more parts of the country in the grip
of the Class A drug.

Cities, such as Limerick and Galway, have developed a hard-core problem
within the last 12-18 months. Heroin is also spreading beyond cities and
large towns to rural areas, such as south Monaghan and south Cavan.

The alarming development comes as the Government prepares to publish its
National Drugs Strategy Review later this week.

"In the past 12 to 18 months, heroin abuse has been taking place in
Limerick, and there's evidence that people from surrounding areas are
coming here for supplies," said Det Sgt John Heelan of the Limerick Drugs Unit.

Last year, the Limerick Drugs Unit seized 20 grammes or pounds 3,000 worth
of the drug. Sources estimate there may be more than 40 heroin users in the
city, with Sgt Heelan saying they had identified a core of up to three
dozen people.

Gardai in Galway said heroin had emerged only in the last year-and-a-half.
"We have seen a huge rise, maybe a three-fold rise in heroin use," said Det
Sgt Gerry Roche of the Galway Drugs Unit. He said there had been two
heroin-related deaths in the city in the last six months.

Det Sgt Roche said they had identified about 20 heroin users, but there
could be as many as 70 users in the Western Health Board region. Gardai in
Monaghan and Cavan said they had made 10 heroin seizures in the district in
the last two months alone. Gardai also report the beginnings of heroin use
in Birr, Co Offaly as well as small-scale use in Portarlington, Co Offaly
and Portlaoise, Co Laois.

There have been reports of small-scale heroin use on the northside of Cork,
although gardai deny there is a problem in the city. Heroin continues to be
used in Athlone, Carlow and Arklow, where the drug emerged up to four years
ago.

There are concerns that unless urgent action is taken the problem could get
worse and spread even further.

"We need to start to look at it now, rather than wait until it's a big
problem, like in Dublin," said Martin O'Sullivan of the Red Ribbon Project
in Limerick City.