Synthetic drugs being shipped to Cavan

A policing meeting has heard of the growing threat of dangerous synthetic drugs being manufactured on an “industrial” scale in Third World countries and being shipped to local users, writes Paul Neilan.

Tim Murphy of the Cavan-Monaghan Drug and Alcohol Awareness (CDA) community group was speaking at the first joint-policing committee meeting since December of last year.
Mr Murphy told the committee that there were 73 weekly methadone-users attending the facility, a figure, he said, that had “doubled in five years”. He said that a further nine people were waiting to get support from the service but that in the two-to-three months that it takes to usually clear the backlog that some of those waiting commit crime.
“The whole drug market has changed,” he said, noting a “significant increase in synthetic cannabinoids” being used by young people.
In his presentation, the project co-ordinator said that there was an “increasing heroin problem” in Cavan-Monaghan, that tablets were also on the rise and that the synthetics were not only growing but “spreading from Cavan to Monaghan”.
Mr Murphy said that, due to the rise in addiction areas, that the CDA would have to expand, and that required more funding.
He said the group needed a full-time administrator, senior project workers for both counties, two full-time project workers for Cavan, full-time family support workers and “at least two more part-time counsellors, including one youth counsellor”.
Chair of the committee Cllr John Paul Feeley mentioned recent comments by the junior health minister on decriminalising cannabis and was told by Gda James McDevitt that cannabis was a step to “bigger drugs, that’s my own personal view”. Deputy Brendan Smith TD said that the CDA’s funding had not changed “for a number of years” and that the money allocated to the group was “not adequate” and needed to be increased.
He said it was of particular concern that young adults in need of support had to wait and said there was a “significant” amount of psychoactive substances being used in Cavan-Monaghan.
The Fianna Fáil man said that there was a number of new substances on the market, which already contained 'Clockwork Orange’ that was “widely available and had fatal consequences for some individuals”.

Gardaí and customs co-operation 'vital’
Mr Murphy said that the manufacturing and supply process of the substances was “very, very sophisticated” and that the problem was exacerbated by “direct internet supply” and that it was “vital for Gardaí and Customs” to closely work together because the problem was “not going to stop” due to any change in the law.
He was asked about the origins of the cannabinoids and said that he believed that Third World countries were manufacturing the drugs on an “industrial scale” and shipping them here but, that if there were any manufacturing facilities in the country that he had not heard of any, a statement that Gda McDevitt agreed with.

'Urgent’ response needed
He emphasised that the problem of synthetic cannabinoids needed an “urgent” response, adding that there were “long-term consequences” for users.
Cllr Peter McVitty (FG) asked what level of engagement gardaí had with local schools on educating students about the dangers of the synthetics.
Superintendent James Coen said “it is happening” with schools and parents in four schools and that that number would be increased.
The superintendent said that psychoactive drugs made users “totally irrational”, put families “at the end of their tether”, that users end up in cells, in courts and in A&E and that users’ behaviour have consequences on the “rest of their lives”.
Fine Gael’s Winston Bennett asked where children were getting the price of the drugs.
He was told: “If they want it, they’ll get it. They can get it on tap and owe a favour.”
Bob Gilbert, the representative for the Cavan Public Participation Network, said that he checked the internet in researching for the meeting and that the drugs were available at a “number of sites”.
Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) said the courts were “very lenient”, that there had to be more help for gardai” and “people living beside growhouses have to know - we’re nosy by our nature they must know” and should tell gardaí by “anonymous phone call” if necessary.
She said court leniency must be “very disheartening” for gardaí, a sentiment echoed by Cllr Feeley who said it “must be very frustrating for gardaí” and for Mr Murphy who are left with a “mess” to tidy up.