Understanding Problem Drug Use

• Of all illegal drugs heroin is the one associated with the greatest harm to individuals, communities and families. [2].
   
  
• Heroin is one of a group of drugs called 'opiates' which are derived from the opium poppy. Opium is the dried milk of the opium poppy. It contains morphine and codeine, both effective painkillers. Heroin is made from morphine and in its pure form is a white powder.
   
  
• Heroin is used for its (initially) pleasurable effects. The effect is usually to give a feeling of warmth, relaxation and detachment with a lessening of anxiety. Effects start quickly and can last several hours but this varies with how much is taken and how the drug is taken. In Ireland of people who use heroin approximately two thirds inject it while about one third smoke it [3].
   
  
• Health Risks associated with heroin use include:
• Death by overdose
• HIV / Hepatitis Infection
• Damage to veins and arteries due to unsafe injecting practices [4].
 
• Heroin users as with all drug users can be divided into three categories:
• Experimental users
• Recreational users
• Problem drug users
 
• Not all those who use drugs experimentally or recreationally will become problematic drug users. However, those who are already troubled and marginalized are at particular risk.
   
  
• Heroin users often use a range of other drugs including - benzodiazepines, alcohol, methadone, cannabis and cocaine...this can cause many additional problems [5].
   
  
• Heroin use has traditionally been confined to Dublin. This is no longer the case. In the past few years treatment clinics have been established to deal with heroin use in Galway, Waterford, Athlone, Portlaoise, Carlow, Tullamore, Drogheda and many other towns.
   
  
• Approximately 7,390 people are engaged in Methadone Treatment Programmes. Another 200 may be involved in drug free treatment programmes at any one time [6].
   
  
• Of drug users in treatment -70% are male with the remaining 30% being female [7]. The average age is between 20 and 24 years of age [8].
   
  
• In excess of 7,000 drug users remain outside treatment services.