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Galway Heroin Problem

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  • 06-03-2015 6:47pm
    #1
    AJGalway
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭


    It has come to my attention that there is and will continue to be a growing Heroin problem in our small city that is Galway.

    I would like to start this thread as a platform for us Galwegians to discuss and report such activity that is Obviously ongoing in the city center.
    Tagged:


«13

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    #2
    WallyGUFC
    Registered Users Posts: 2,052 ✭✭✭WallyGUFC


    Been like that for the past few years. The users are usually very recognisable. I believe the castle on the Dyke Road is a popular spot for them to shoot up.


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    #3
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    To what end, OP?

    I genuinely don't know what a thread like that would achieve.


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    #4
    Bobeagleburger
    Registered Users Posts: 45,313 ✭✭✭✭Bobeagleburger


    Supposed to be very rampant in the city alright.


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    #5
    AJGalway
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭AJGalway


    We all know what type of problems happen when things get out of hand, just look at the state of Dublin.

    It hasn't been this bad in years. Spreading awareness and acknowledging the fact that the problem is growing can help.

    I know that the toilets in Eyre Square is notorious for it. I've watched them come and go throughout the day.


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    #6
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    How can it help?


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    #7
    pleasant Co.
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 7,388 Mod ✭✭✭✭pleasant Co.


    I'm sorry, just what exactly is the point of this thread?

    What do you want to discuss?
    What to you want to report and where do you intend on reporting it?


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    #8
    todders
    Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭todders


    Agree op, Some people can't spell heroin correctly..it's a real problem..


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    #9
    renegademaster
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,670 ✭✭✭renegademaster


    AJGalway wrote: »
    It has come to my attention that there is and will continue to be a growing Heroin problem in our small city that is Galway.

    I would like to start this thread as a platform for us Galwegians to discuss and report such activity that is Obviously ongoing in the city center.
    Das Kitty wrote: »
    To what end, OP?

    I genuinely don't know what a thread like that would achieve.
    rarnes1 wrote: »
    Supposed to be very rampant in the city alright.
    pleasant Co. wrote: »
    I'm sorry, just what exactly is the point of this thread?

    What do you want to discuss?
    What to you want to report and where do you intend on reporting it?
    todders wrote: »
    Agree op, Some people can't spell heroin correctly..it's a real problem..
    WallyGUFC wrote: »
    Been like that for the past few years. The users are usually very recognisable. I believe the castle on the Dyke Road is a popular spot for them to shoot up.
    AJGalway wrote: »
    We all know what type of problems happen when things get out of hand, just look at the state of Dublin.

    It hasn't been this bad in years. Spreading awareness and acknowledging the fact that the problem is growing can help.

    I know that the toilets in Eyre Square is notorious for it. I've watched them come and go throughout the day.
    Das Kitty wrote: »
    How can it help?

    I met this extremely knowledgeable and approachable Portuguese dude at a students for sensible drug use talk in NUIG, and what he had to say was very sensible to say the least

    http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/17/lowering-the-deadly-cost-of-drug-abuse/decriminalizing-possession-of-all-illicit-drugs

    João Castel-Branco Goulão is Portugal’s national drug coordinator and the chairman of the European Monitoring Center on Drugs and Drug Addiction.
    March 17, 2014


    The overthrow of Portugal’s military dictatorship 40 years ago brought liberation after decades of repression. But along with political freedom and self expression, came another import from the free world that our citizens had long been denied, drugs. With little experience of their dangers, addiction and social problems soared. Soon the rates of abuse and overdose were staggering.
    Portugal deals with drug abusers outside of court, making treatment a priority.

    We responded with a drastic measure. In 2000, Portugal decriminalized the use of all illicit drugs, and developed new policies on prevention, treatment, harm reduction and reinsertion. Drug use is no longer a crime, but it is still prohibited. Possession of what a person would use in 10 days or less is no longer a matter for the courts. Users are referred to Commissions for Drug Addiction Dissuasion, which educate them, discourage them from consuming drugs and help them find treatment. The idea behind the new law is that drug addiction must be addressed as a health or social condition.
    While critics of the law warned that drug use would swell, it has not risen. We have seen significant reductions in H.I.V. infections and in overdoses, as well as a substantial increase in new patients seeking drug treatment.
    Much of this reduction in the harm suffered by drug users, I believe, is due to the commissions' outreach, treatment programs and measures to protect users' health.
    Police and customs authorities continue to suppress trafficking, but they now have added resources that were once allocated to pursuing users.

    SIMPLES!!


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    #10
    todders
    Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭todders


    renegademaster wrote: »
    I met this extremely knowledgeable and approachable Portuguese dude at a students for sensible drug use talk in NUIG, and what he had to say was very sensible to say the least

    http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/03/17/lowering-the-deadly-cost-of-drug-abuse/decriminalizing-possession-of-all-illicit-drugs


    João Castel-Branco Goulão is Portugal’s national drug coordinator and the chairman of the European Monitoring Center on Drugs and Drug Addiction.
    March 17, 2014


    The overthrow of Portugal’s military dictatorship 40 years ago brought liberation after decades of repression. But along with political freedom and self expression, came another import from the free world that our citizens had long been denied, drugs. With little experience of their dangers, addiction and social problems soared. Soon the rates of abuse and overdose were staggering.
    Portugal deals with drug abusers outside of court, making treatment a priority.

    We responded with a drastic measure. In 2000, Portugal decriminalized the use of all illicit drugs, and developed new policies on prevention, treatment, harm reduction and reinsertion. Drug use is no longer a crime, but it is still prohibited. Possession of what a person would use in 10 days or less is no longer a matter for the courts. Users are referred to Commissions for Drug Addiction Dissuasion, which educate them, discourage them from consuming drugs and help them find treatment. The idea behind the new law is that drug addiction must be addressed as a health or social condition.
    While critics of the law warned that drug use would swell, it has not risen. We have seen significant reductions in H.I.V. infections and in overdoses, as well as a substantial increase in new patients seeking drug treatment.
    Much of this reduction in the harm suffered by drug users, I believe, is due to the commissions' outreach, treatment programs and measures to protect users' health.
    Police and customs authorities continue to suppress trafficking, but they now have added resources that were once allocated to pursuing users.

    SIMPLES!!

    You lost me at "dude"

    Simples, indeed..


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    #11
    catallus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭catallus


    Why would there be a "substantial increase" in those seeking drug treatment if the numbers of drug users/drug use "has not risen"?


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    #12
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    catallus wrote: »
    Why would there be a "substantial increase" in those seeking drug treatment if the numbers of drug users/drug use "has not risen"?

    Because people who were afraid to seek treatment for fear of prosecution finally did?


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    #13
    _Whimsical_
    Registered Users Posts: 7,955 ✭✭✭_Whimsical_


    I've heard that there's a dramatic increase in heroin use in the city and read in the paper that on a Sunday afternoon before Christmas that there were people shooting up in public on a Sunday afternoon while families out for walks strolled past.
    I've never heard anyone I know talking about it as a problem or encountering anything to do with it. Are there people here who are seeing it or encountering it regularly? Are there areas where it's an obvious problem now?


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    #14
    catallus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭catallus


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    Because people who were afraid to seek treatment for fear of prosecution finally did?

    Would a more obvious answer be that more people are using?


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    #15
    Bobeagleburger
    Registered Users Posts: 45,313 ✭✭✭✭Bobeagleburger


    catallus wrote: »
    Would a more obvious answer be that more people are using?

    Yeah, I'd have thought that was obvious.

    Higher usage would generally mean higher numbers seeking treatment.


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    #16
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    To give some background and sources for the claims by OP

    Older city thread

    Up to 300 people in Galway city use heroin
    Rise in heroin use in Galway top priority for policing body
    Galway targeted by Lithuanian heroin dealers
    Galway heroin dealer tried to swallow bags


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    #17
    WallyGUFC
    Registered Users Posts: 2,052 ✭✭✭WallyGUFC


    If you think this country will ever legalise illicit drugs (the same country which is introducing minimum pricing on alcohol and plain cigarette packets) you're sorely mistaken.


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    #18
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,121 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The herons are grand - it's the seagulls that are a menace.


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    #19
    Bobeagleburger
    Registered Users Posts: 45,313 ✭✭✭✭Bobeagleburger


    WallyGUFC wrote: »
    If you think this country will ever legalise illicit drugs (the same country which is introducing minimum pricing on alcohol and plain cigarette packets) you're sorely mistaken.


    Yeah, not a chance any political party would even try it in the foreseeable future.

    I'd imagine the drug problem would have to get far far worse for them to even consider it.


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    #20
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    catallus wrote: »
    Would a more obvious answer be that more people are using?

    I actually wasnt guessing. I shouldn't have used the question mark. It's a fact that fear of prosecution prevents addicts from seeking help.


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    #21
    catallus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,106 ✭✭✭catallus


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    I actually wasnt guessing. I shouldn't have used the question mark. It's a fact that fear of prosecution prevents addicts from seeking help.

    Then how can one explain 2246 people entering drug treatment for the first time in Ireland versus only 2265 in Portugal (which has over double our population)?

    http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/stats13#display:/stats13/tditab9b

    It can't be because drug use in Portugal has fallen; even the staunchest defenders of decriminalisation claim only it "hasn't risen" and that's debatable:
    Despite the downward trend observed during 2002–06, the most recent ESPAD study corroborates the findings of the HBSC study, showing an increase in consumption of illicit substances since 2006.

    http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/country-overviews/pt#pdu

    Anyways, I could be wrong, maybe it is police policy in Ireland to stake out treatment centres to find people to arrest, but I'd like to see some evidence of that :rolleyes:

    The problem with drug prohibition is that the rewards for drug-dealing vastly outweigh the risks and punishment. That, and given human nature, which ensures an endless supply of people who are prepared to dope themselves up to the eyeballs given half a chance (witness any street full of drunken louts anywhere in the world on a Saturday night).

    But really, is the solution making drugs more freely available the truly responsible solution?


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    #22
    El_Dangeroso
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 5,620 ✭✭✭El_Dangeroso


    Can someone please fix the thread title? It's making me twitch every time I see it.


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    #23
    ben.schlomo
    Registered Users Posts: 12,025 ✭✭✭✭ben.schlomo


    _Whimsical_ wrote: »
    I've heard that there's a dramatic increase in heroin use in the city and read in the paper that on a Sunday afternoon before Christmas that there were people shooting up in public on a Sunday afternoon while families out for walks strolled past.
    I've never heard anyone I know talking about it as a problem or encountering anything to do with it. Are there people here who are seeing it or encountering it regularly? Are there areas where it's an obvious problem now?

    Sounds like something Keith Finnegan would be waffling on about.


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    #24
    RainyDay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,925 ✭✭✭RainyDay


    todders wrote: »
    Agree op, Some people can't spell heroin correctly..it's a real problem..

    Look, I know they eat a lot of fish and all that, but give them a break.

    stan-carey-heron-at-spanish-arch-17-galway.jpg


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    #25
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    Pretty recently Chief Supt. for Galway said that 300 people are using Heroin in Galway, and over 20k worth has been seized in 2014. To be fair, it's not that high for a population the size of Galway.

    However the most important part of that figure is the fact that it's increased pretty significantly since 2013. Also, Councillors in Westside have been recently vocal about discarded needles being discovered in playgrounds.


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    #26
    stampydmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 2,359 ✭✭✭stampydmonkey


    Loose needles makes me sick...a few kids in Dublin have been nicked on the Luas and Dart....cant imagine the damage id do to the next junkie i saw if my kid was ever caught by some junkies fcukin needle


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    #27
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,798 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Has anyone provided a safe place for junkies to dispose of their needles?


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    #28
    inisboffin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,388 ✭✭✭inisboffin


    stampydmonkey wrote: »
    .a few kids in Dublin have been nicked on the Luas and Dart....

    Where did you get this statistic? I'm kind of surprised that it's been children (multiple?) getting nicked on the Luas and Dart. I would have assumed that kids are way more likely to come in contact with used needles in places like waste grounds etc when playing. And was it only kids that got 'nicked' by needles on public transport, or a mix of adults too?


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    #29
    Lapin
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Has anyone provided a safe place for junkies to dispose of their needles?

    Bless their dainty little hearts, it can't be easy holding down a full time drug habit and be expected clean up after themselves too.

    How about providing a place to dispose of junkies instead?


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    #30
    Lapin
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    inisboffin wrote: »
    Where did you get this statistic? I'm kind of surprised that it's been children (multiple?) getting nicked on the Luas and Dart. I would have assumed that kids are way more likely to come in contact with used needles in places like waste grounds etc when playing. And was it only kids that got 'nicked' by needles on public transport, or a mix of adults too?

    There was a recent case.

    http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/horror-as-little-boy-jabbed-by-syringe-needle-on-city-bus-30912613.html


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    #31
    inisboffin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,388 ✭✭✭inisboffin


    Lapin wrote: »
    There was a recent case.

    http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/horror-as-little-boy-jabbed-by-syringe-needle-on-city-bus-30912613.html

    Thanks, yeah I heard about that, awful situation, but the other poster seemed to cite multiple cases all on transport, which surprised me. The article seems to mention the other occurrences, but they some seem to be over 11 years ago, as opposed to recently as I interpreted.

    I'm also failing to see how beating the sh*t out of the next junkie would do anything to rectify this. Bit like beating up the next drunk you saw because someone else hurt your kid.


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