'COCAINE AS AVAILABLE AS SMARTIES' AND 'READILY AVAILABLE' IN
INISHOWEN PUBS

The Irish scourge of cocaine abuse has hit Inishowen - with claims
from a number of local pub bosses that the drug is "readily
available" - and a Muff drugs counsellor's warning that the narcotic
is "as available as a packet of smarties".

Father James Sweeney, who devotes most of his time to helping
recovering drug addicts at the White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre in
Muff, said cocaine is: "as available as a packet of Smarties" and
"available all over Donegal."

The controversial statement from a man at the centre of drugs
treatment in Inishowen is a very worrying one for the peninsula, also
clearly affected by the national scourge of narcotic abuse.

The message related to the national press, comes just before Donegal
TD Joe McHugh said he'd been told by a number of Inishowen publicans
that coke was "readily available" across the peninsula.

Nationally in the past few weeks, five young people, including high
profile model Katy French have died from coke overdoses. But
Inishowen also needs to be aware young people here are endulging in
coke abuse, as the drug culture would seem to be changing from soft
to hard substances.

Fr Sweeney added: "You don't have to go very far until all these
drugs are very easily obtained. I assure you I'm not exaggerating -
it's in the remotest parts."

TD Joe McHugh said: "Cocaine abuse is symptomatic of our society
where people's values and value systems are completely different to
what they were 20 or 30 years ago.

"People living in fast moving society and this is reflective of the
types of communities we are living in.

"We are at a cross roads where in the past religion was a strong
force in terms of social discipline. We need society to get back to
basics, to a belief system where there is respect for neighbours and
respect for one's self."

The politician raised the issue of drugs education in the Dail last
Thursday.

While the PSNI in the North visit primary and secondary schools, the
gardai do not carry out the same ro

le in the Republic to teach children the evils of drug
abuse.

Mr McHugh said: "Our education system is all geared up towards
getting a good job and does not teach youngsters how to live a proper
life.

"There are going to be drugs where there is a demand from young
people who feel lost and there is something dysfunctional about this."

The Irish Government is preparing a national anti-drugs advertisement
blitz to target pubs, clubs and workplaces.

The ads will warn youngsters that drugs like cocaine can
kill.

More than 5,000 logged on to a Government-sponsored website in the
last fortnight to find out more.

If you would like to find out more information about drugs, log on
to: www.drugs.ie.

If you are experiencing a problem with drugs, contact the White Oaks
Rehabilitation Centre, Muff, where Fr Sweeney is on hand with a
number of dedicated staff.