LIBERTIES DRUG CRISIS HIGHLIGHTED

Heroin addiction in Dublin's south inner city is over eight times higher
than in the rest of the city, a conference was told yesterday.

Mr Vincent Doherty, co-ordinator of the area's Local Drugs Task Force, said
a recent report estimated 17.5 per cent of 15-24 year old males in the area
were heroin addicts.

This compared to an overall Dublin average of 2.1 per cent and a European
average of 0.3 per cent.

He was speaking at "Re-creating Hope", a conference reviewing the fight
against drugs in the Liberties area. Voluntary workers, professionals and
local people affected by drugs attended. He said the drugs problem was
fuelled by underlying factors. "Current levels of resources are only a drop
in the ocean to what is required to turn around the major social problems
involved.

"The south inner city is a special case. It has the highest density of
local authority housing estates in the State. It has the highest
concentration of poverty, heroin use and heroin-related illnesses, not just
in the State but in Europe," he added. Mr Gary Broderick of the Anna Livia
Project said hepatitis C was becoming more prevalent among heroin addicts
and was now a more serious risk than HIV.

Mr Chris Flood TD, the former minister of state responsible for the
National Drugs Strategy from 1997-99, opened the conference. He said the
current review of the national strategy should focus on the community.

Resources for projects involving local people must be guaranteed. "If the
resources are not put in, words mean nothing."

Mr Flood said the local drugs task forces, 12 in the Dublin area, one in
Bray and another in Cork, allowed the community a "significant voice"
alongside the statutory agencies.

He said rehabilitation was also important and called on employers in the
public and private sector to become involved.