Serious Concerns Over Growing Cocaine Use In Our Society

Labour Deputy George Lawlor is sounding the alarm on the shocking rise in overdoses linked to cheap psychoactive tablets flooding Co. Wexford. This issue has been growing in seriousness and is now a major concern for the community. Deputy Lawlor emphasized that drug abuse has been a problem for many years, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Wexford, like many other places, has seen a steady increase in the number of overdoses, particularly related to psychoactive drugs. These substances, easily accessible and often inexpensive, are especially dangerous for young people who may not fully understand the risks. "The reality is that drugs, particularly cocaine, are becoming more widely used across different age groups," George said. "It's not just an issue for teenagers but for professionals and even sportspeople. Some young athletes, for example, may avoid alcohol because they think it could harm their performance or physique. Instead, they turn to drugs like cocaine to help maintain their fitness levels, which is an incredibly dangerous mindset." Cocaine use in Ireland has reached concerning levels. It has become so widely available that even large seizures, like the recent one in Rosslare worth €1.4 million, only hint at the scale of the problem. For example, the seizure from the MV Matthew story, one of the largest drug busts in Irish waters, could have supplied the UK market with cocaine for just one week. This highlights the sheer volume of drugs entering the country and the challenge of controlling their distribution. Deputy Lawlor also stressed the need for stronger action to combat the problem. "We need to tackle the issue at the source," he said. "This means enhancing our resources at ports, airports and other points of entry where drugs are brought into the country. The use of sniffer dogs and better intelligence coordination with the Gardaí is key to making sure we are stopping drugs before they can reach our streets." To address these issues the Wexford TD highlighted a proposal to decriminalize the user while focusing on cracking down on dealers. "Dealers are the ones profiting from the misery of others and they are the ones we need to target. The people who are buying the drugs, while still part of the problem are not the ones causing the real harm," George explained. Speaking on Morning Mix earlier he outlined a multi-pronged approach to dealing with the drug problem. This includes increased surveillance at key points of entry, better use of technology like sniffer dogs and more funding for local addiction support services. “We must invest more in our defence mechanisms to prevent drugs from entering through our ports, airports and bus routes,” he said. “It's clear that the problem is growing and we need to take bold action now.”