Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 6

Heroin-related Deaths.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to share my time with Deputy Gay Mitchell.

The Criminal Assets Bureau deserves to be complimented on the manner in which it has gone after the assets of the drug barons – the results speak for themselves. Likewise, the national drugs unit has had spectacular success in its ongoing multi-million pound drugs seizures. In spite of all this, the battle is being lost. Every day the queue of heroin addicts is growing. The recorded 15,000 heroin addicted persons in Dublin in 1998 has grown to more than 16,000.

The battle is being lost on several fronts. It is being lost on the consumer front. In spite of the additional resources, the various drugs initiatives are not penetrating into the drugs heartland of the south inner city Dublin flatland. The battle is being lost on the retail front. In spite of the good intentions of the local drugs task forces, the drug peddlers, the dealers, the pushers and the middlemen continue to operate with virtual impunity as they push drugs daily on street corners and in school yards. It is being lost on the socio-economic front because many of those addicted come from areas where there is not any employment, facilities, hope or future.

Rosie Lakes was 21 years of age. She was a chronic heroin addict and she died from contaminated heroin last Friday and was buried yesterday. Carl O'Shea was 29 years of age. He was a heroin addict and died last Thursday in St. Vincent's Hospital from contaminated heroin. Maureen Gleeson was the mother of two children and she died in her Crumlin flat from contaminated heroin. Their deaths bring to eight the number of heroin addicts who have died from contaminated heroin over the past two weeks.

An RTE radio programme today captured the mood, the fear and the helplessness of the frightened drug population when one addict replied that he was "too desperate to stay away". Another said there was not enough methadone, while another said there was not enough help. Warnings from the Eastern Regional Health Authority will be of no avail unless some substitute or more methadone is provided until the source of the lethal supply is established.

There seems to be certain common denominator factors. All the deaths seem to be in the south western section of the city. Some of those involved certainly availed of drugs from the same source and supply. The heroin in question turns green instead of brown when mixed with water. What is certain is that there will be further deaths unless the contaminated supply is found. We wish the Garda well in their task of trying to establish where this supply of poison drugs has come from, who supplied the lethal drugs and what is the agenda.

Mr. G. Mitchell

I am grateful to Deputy Higgins for sharing his time with me. Given this epidemic of eight deaths and a number of other close calls where people were saved by the medical services, I would have expected a statement from the Government before now. Even at this stage, I would expect the Minister for Health and Children to bring together his colleagues, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister Tourism, Sport and Recreation, who has responsibility for local development, and maybe the Minister for Foreign Affairs – I mention him for a particular reason – to co-ordinate a response to this. It may not end at eight deaths; we do not know. It very nearly did not end at eight deaths as a number of people came very close to dying in recent days.

The reason I suggest that the Minister for Foreign Affairs become involved is that there appears to have been a similar epidemic in Glasgow recently. The source of that may be the same as the source here. Furthermore, it has been alleged to me by a journalist that there was a similar epidemic in Dublin in recent weeks and a similar number of people died. Much of this is unsubstantiated but what is substantiated is that eight young people are dead and probably most of them were from my constituency. I know two of them are and I recognise a third name. I do not know the names of all eight victims. More people could have died and more may die. It needs a co-ordinated response.

Research done by a group in Crumlin shows that eight in ten young people do their leaving certificate but the figure is one in ten among those who abuse heroin. Those people do not read the newspapers or listen to "Morning Ireland" or other radio programmes. They do not even listen to the news on the more popular younger people's programmes. We need to ensure the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Garda go to the haunts which these people frequent warning them of the danger they are in. Furthermore, we need to know if this supply of heroin was recklessly, without mercy and knowingly put on the market so that people's lives could be terminated and put in danger in this way. A multi-departmental approach is needed.

If this was a car crash in which a number of people were killed or a small aircraft crash, there would be a major inquiry. There would be statements in this House and Ministers would co-ordinate a response. That is the sort of response needed to this development. This is a very serious and grave development which is of enormous concern. I hope we do not find that this epidemic becomes a pandemic. We need to take this matter in hand. I cannot recall in one area so many young people dying in such a short period of time from such a terrible source.

I express my sympathies to the families and friends of those who died; they were all only young people. I read about Ms Lakes from my constituency, who sat her mother down when she was only 15 years of age and told her she had something to tell her. Her mother thought she was going to tell her she was pregnant but, according to the report, she told her she was a junkie. She died this week at the age of 21. This needs an adequate co-ordinated inter-departmental response. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this matter.

Dr. Upton

On Saturday I visited a number of households neighbouring the Lakes family home in Crumlin. In each one of those homes a sense of sorrow and anger was palpable. Every second person I spoke to said that Rosie Lakes came from a good and caring family and that she was a fantastic young woman who potentially had a great future. However, ultimately, this young woman got caught up in the vicious cycle of heroin abuse. Her life was wasted and that of her family has been torn apart.

If it were not for the courage of Rosie Lakes's parents, who yesterday courageously went public with their grief at the death of their young daughter, the sudden upsurge in media and public attention would never have happened. Yesterday, St. James's Hospital reported that eight heroin addicts had died in its care over the past two weeks. A further three addicts have been reported dead today. Until the Lakes family spoke out this series of deaths was completely undocumented. The air of suspicion surrounding the deaths of Rosie Lakes, Carol O'Shea and Maureen Gleeson have concerned me and I am glad the Garda Síochána has instigated an investigation into the matter.

However, what worries me more is the fact that people are dying every week as a result of heroin and the response by the Government has been near to zero. It appears that while the majority of people have begun to rise on the crest of our growing economy, those communities who have always suffered the brunt of poverty have now been forgotten again. The drugs problem has been allowed to fester without notice.

The unacceptable spate of heroin related deaths in this city should act as a wake up call to the Government. In 1996, the network of drugs task forces was established to co-ordinate the various sectors in the prevention and treatment of drug addiction. In general the task forces have played an important role in ensuring better delivery of services and amenities in drug ridden communities. I understand the Minister of State with responsibility for drugs is anxious to ensure cross-party support for the work of the task forces. It is very important to ensure that all task forces are working effectively at producing positive outcomes within specific time frames. The operation of these bodies cannot be left to chance.

Health board estimates suggest that there are 13,000 heroin addicts in Dublin alone. These estimates are based primarily on the number of people who are receiving or seeking treatment. The real figures are likely to be much higher. Our current rehabilitation facilities and spaces on methadone maintenance are over stretched. Young teenagers who seek help in these programmes are put on waiting lists and by the time their number is called it is unfortunately too late for many of them. Meanwhile, many of these youngsters end up in the revolving prison door syndrome and their families are forced to their wits end while pushers remain on the streets luring more and more people into the vicious net of addiction.

Those who are making money on the backs of misery may even be guilty of selling low grade heroin, which may be at the core of the recent spate of deaths. Despite the zero tolerance policy of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, drug ridden communities remain under policed. Turf wars, self appointed police agents and balaclavas are still an unfortunate reality for housing estates and flat complexes in this city.

Today the Minister for zero tolerance announced another new 700 prison places. Will they serve to house addicts whose problems intensify during their incarceration? To date, there has been little effort to introduce adequate treatment to the prison system and, clearly, prison is not the answer to the drugs problem. Before creating these new prison places did the Minister care to consider that by investing in proper treatment for 700 addicts he would cancel out the need for the prison places in the first place?

The stories of recent heroin related deaths have been horrific. It is a reminder to us all that the heroin problem has not gone away; if anything it is more solid than ever before. This week should be a turning point in our drugs policy. We should set about creating a drugs policy where prevention and cure are given every resource needed. Youngsters should be supported through education and amenities so that they do not end up in the web of drug abuse, while those presenting themselves for treatment should receive the treatment they need within a short time frame. After treatment there should be education, employment and housing opportunities which offer real hope for a drug free lifestyle. I conclude by offering my sympathy to the family of Rosie Lakes and to the other young people who died tragically last week.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Ms Hanafin)

I thank Deputies Jim Higgins, Gay Mitchell and Upton for raising these important questions. I share their concern and the concern of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy Ryan, and of the Eastern Regional Health Authority on the recent deaths from heroin. I too extend my deepest sympathy to the families of all those concerned.

I am advised that the Eastern Regional Health Authority has issued warning notices to all of the clinics for staff to be extra vigilant and to report any unusual and unexpected illnesses or symptoms to medical personnel. The notice also advises clients to seek medical help immediately if they develop any unusual or unexpected effects or illnesses. The area health boards are sending similar notices to all GPs in the area. General practitioners and all staff are being asked to report back to the area health boards any relevant information which may help to clarify the causes of the recent deaths of heroin misusers in Dublin.

The alert arose from reports that 20 injecting drug users were admitted to hospitals in the Glasgow area in the two weeks ending May 15. Nine of the 20 died and some of the others were admitted to intensive care units. Fifteen of the 20 cases admitted to hospital were women. The illnesses that were caused in Glasgow appeared to be related to injecting heroin into tissues which caused severe damage and extensive necrosis. In severe cases there was a rapid deterioration over a number of days which developed into a septic shock syndrome.

A European wide alert in relation to this matter was issued last Friday. This came to the ERHA department of public health through the National Disease Surveillance Centre in Dublin. The ERHA passed the information on to the chief executives of the accident and emergency hospitals in the region and asked that it be brought to the attention of the staff working in accident and emergency departments and that the hospitals would feed back information if they had similar cases here. As of yet, no hospitals have come back to the ERHA indicating that any of the cases in the Dublin area were similar to the Glasgow cases.

My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, has informed me that the Garda Síochána is investigating the deaths of a number of persons who were admitted to hospital within recent weeks. The Garda Síochána is awaiting the results of toxicology analysis which have been conducted.

The Garda Síochána has also informed the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that 50 street deals of heroin have been seized over the past four weeks as part of operation cleanstreet. These are currently being analysed in the forensic science laboratory in Garda headquarters. To date, more than two thirds of the 50 samples have been analysed and there is no evidence of contamination in any of them. The Garda Síochána is liaising with the hospital authorities in examining any recent reported fatalities which may be linked to drug abuse.

A comprehensive range of structures has been put in place to address the drugs problem. Fourteen local drugs task forces have been established in the areas where the drugs problem is most acute and over 200 projects are under way in local task force areas. Thirteen of the task forces are in the greater Dublin area. In addition, through the youth services development fund a range of initiatives are under way aimed at children and families at risk. A Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs works to co-ordinate activities on an inter-departmental basis to address the problem. The national drugs strategy will be further reviewed this year with the aim of ensuring that properly co-ordinated and integrated structures and services are being put in place.

In the Eastern Regional Health Authority area services are provided through more than 50 treatment locations. Two new clinics have recently been opened in the Crumlin/Drimnagh areas. Services at an existing clinic in James's Street are being expanded. Treatment services are provided in clinic settings and by over 125 general practitioners.

Priority is being given to special programmes targeted at young persons. Nine education officers have been recruited to work with schools and local communities on the development and delivery of drug prevention programmes and a further three are currently being recruited. Three rehabilitation co-ordinators are creating links between drugs treatment services and the range of agencies who provide rehabilitation options for drug misusers. The authority also provide support to the voluntary and community groups whose work complements that of the statutory services.

The current budget for the services in the ERHA area is in excess of £20 million. The key priorities are completion of the network of community based treatment services and increasing the emphasis on primary care and services; the development of specialist services for young persons; the development of treatment services in the prison system; measures to regularise the prescribing of benzodiazepines; the development of specialist responses for the probation and welfare services; the development of additional capacity in the treatment services to deal with referrals from the drugs courts service; the development of rehabilitation services; and the development of a patient charter. It is also proposed that three further clinics will be reopened.

Following the completion of the network of clinics it is hoped services will be available on demand for addicts as they present. The ERHA has informed me that as an emergency measure the number of areas for which the mobile bus provides a service is being extended.

A recent independent report on the drugs services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority found that there has been a remarkable degree of activity and expansion within the services in the ERHA over the past four to five years which has led to one of the more innovative community drug service programmes in Europe. Regarding prevention, the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children has many initiatives in place to reduce drug addiction among young people. The health promotion unit with the Department of Education and Science and the Mater Dei Counselling Centre has developed substance abuse prevention programmes for primary and secondary schools. These programmes entitled, "Walk Tall" and "On My Own Two Feet", respectively, are aimed to enable students to develop their ability to make informed decisions about the use of drugs in their lives.

The national youth health programme is a partnership between the National Youth Council of Ireland, the health promotion unit and the youth affairs section of the Department of Education and Science. The aim of the programme is to develop health education resources and to provide training in health issues specific to young people. Its resources include the youth work support pack which was developed by the National Youth Council for dealing with drugs issues and provides a framework for exploring individual roles in relation to the drugs issue at organisational level.

"Drugs Questions Local Answers" is an ongoing community based programmed to help participants cope better with the drug related problems which they meet. The course is designed for people working and living in local communities to help them identify local drug problems and to develop local responses to these problems. The health promotion unit has run convenor training programmes for this pack in conjunction with the eight regional health boards.

Mr. G. Mitchell

If that is the case why are these people dying?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy should allow the Minister to conclude. The time is limited.

Ms Hanafin

As a result of these courses a large number of convenors have been trained to use this pack. The health promotion unit has developed a wide range of educational materials including leaflets, posters and postcards for young people which provide information on all aspects of drug abuse. I assure the Deputies that both the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, are totally committed to tackling the problem of illicit drugs, including heroin.

The drugs problem did not arrive overnight and neither can it be solved overnight. The Deputies will appreciate that there is no quick and easy solution. The Government's approach to the problem of drug misuse has been and remains a two pronged approach with strong legislation supported by tough law enforcement measures on the one hand and a multi-agency integrated approach targeted at reducing the demand for drugs on the other.

This policy of strong legislation and increased resources backed up by tough law enforcement is vital to tackle the drug problem. For example, the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, which has been successfully utilised by the Criminal Assets Bureau to deprive those involved in criminal activity from enjoying the benefits of their ill gotten gains and the recent Criminal Justice Act, 1999, which substantially strengthened the law relating to drug trafficking provide for a minimum mandatory ten year prison sentence for persons convicted of dealing in drugs with a value of £10,000 or more.

This policy of strong legislation backed up by tough law enforcement has resulted in record drug seizures, many Irish based drug trafficking organisations being dismantled, major drug barons fleeing abroad and a high percentage of persons prosecuted being convicted and sentenced to prison. This Government's anti-crime policies are yielding the anticipated good results with a further fall of 5% in crime figures last year leading to a cumulative fall of 21% since we took office. In addition, we are also on target for increasing prison capacity in an unprecedented way. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform also believes that the new restrictions on bail should prove particularly effective in helping to tackle the drug problem. The correlation between drugs, crime and social disadvantage are well documented and in this context a multi-agency partnership approach to dealing with the problem at a local level is the cornerstone of the Government's national drugs strategy.

I accept that we must continue to have drug misuse as a priority area for attention and that further work is needed to prevent young people turning to drugs in the first instance while working to ensure that appropriate treatment and rehabilitation facilities are provided for those who need them. My Department will continue to work in a co-ordinated fashion to tackle the problem and to halt the upward trend in drug misuse.

In the context of this present unfortunate situation I know that all the agencies are doing their utmost to identify the reason for the recent deaths. The ERHA, in particular, is keeping all its staff on high alert and is actively in touch with the Dublin accident and emergency hospitals to monitor the situation.