This article is from page 6 of the 2006-04-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
HEROIN is gripping the people of Clare at an alarming rate with more than 100 people using the drug and half of these, addicted.
Addiction counsellor in the midwest, Mark Campbell said more than 50 people in the county were receiving counselling, as a result of heroin over-dependency.
“In the last 12 months there has been a significant increase in the number of addicts. Fifty people in Clare access this service. There are at least 100 users of heroin in Clare. All of those might not be dependant. The 50 who come here would have a dependency,” he said.
Mr Campbell, who has worked in Clare for four years, said the problem had become increasingly prevalent in the past two years.
“There is quite an increase in the number of users. It is more available now than it was two years ago,” he said.
“It becomes the main thing in people’s lives and can tear families apart. All addicts think about is their next fix,” he said.
He said the symptoms experienced by heroin addicts were comparable to the flu, but were “100 times” worse.
“Everybody who uses heroin isn’t necessarily an addict, but for those who become addicted, it becomes a physical dependence and they would do almost anything to get their hands on it.”
According to Mr Campbell, addicts range from their mid 20s to their mid 30s. The majority are males.
He said teenagers tended to fear the dangers of heroin, whereas some older adults did not have such qualms.
He believes they delve in the drug, out of curiosity. Good family support can help wean people off it.
“It is very much to do with curiosity. They like the effect and then try it again . . . and again. People who depend on alcohol tend to develop a dependency on heroin,” he said.