Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 3

Written Answers. - Combating Heroin Abuse.

Derek McDowell

Question:

55 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress being made by the Garda in combating the heroin menace in Dublin; the investigations held into a number of recent deaths which may have been linked to contaminated heroin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20164/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Garda Commissioner and I are totally committed to tackling the problem of drug abuse, including heroin abuse.

The Government's policy of tough legislation, backed up by strong law enforcement measures, in tandem with a multi-agency partnership approach to dealing with the problems of drugs, crime and social disadvantage will ultimately prove successful.

The Garda are tackling both the major drug trafficking groups and street level drug dealing as well as dealing with the international aspects of drug trafficking. The major trafficking groups are constantly being targeted and a number of significant internationally driven seizures have been made.

There has been a concerted drive to tackle street level drug dealing utilising Garda operations such as Dóchas, cleanstreet, mainstreet and nightcap. In a recent phase of Operation Cleanstreet concentrated in Dublin city, a total of 144 persons were identified as being involved in the sale of heroin. On 25 September last, 44 of these persons were arrested and charged. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is expected that the remainder will be dealt with in a like fashion in the near future.

My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, has informed me that there have been 24 reported cases of severe inflammatory infection of heroin users since May 2000 and eight of these patients have died. A bacterium, clostridium novyi, was isolated from two of those who died. The findings in Dublin taken together with the findings from a similar outbreak in Glasgow indicated that what happened in May and June was that contaminated heroin was injected into muscle tissue by those drug users who became infected. Clostridium novyi is an anaerobic bacterium which is present in soil. It needs a very particular environment to survive and, if injected into muscle, can lead to severe infection. Its spores can survive dormant for a long period of time.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority is continuing its investigation regarding the nature and cause of the infection in drug users and has alerted all accident and emergency departments in Dublin city to be on the lookout for any similar type of infections. The three area health boards in the eastern region continue to highlight the dangers of drug use and injecting into muscle.

Investigations by the gardaí into a number of deaths associated with drug misuse are ongoing.