Drug Concern Tackle Herorin Addiction

Guernsey's drug concerns seen a 50% increase in the number of new clients over 2007, compared with the previous year.

Most of them are struggling with heroin addiction.

The service has released its latest annual report.

Drug Concern took on nearly 300 new clients over 2007.

The organisation's putting it primarily down to the appointment of a full time prison worker in 2006.

Most of Drug Concern's clients are seeking help with the highly addictive Class A drug heroin.

Figures for the needle exchange show 31 people are using it on average at any one time.

The service is also reporting a shift in the age groups they're dealing with.

While in the past, most of their clients have been over 30s, they have seen a significant shift in the numbers under 20.(from Island FM)

It is worrying to see that the unders 20's are using harder drugs.

It might be easier if the white list for prescription drugs contained Methadone.

Andy...

I find these stats very very worrying indeed and it is about time that Gsy woke up and fully understood the severe social disaster that is happening right on our door step. I fear that we will have well over 1,000 + users by end of 2009 and this evil should under no circumstances be ignored. It will impact on all aspects of our society and community and the deaths from abuse will increase including the under 20’s. I find it utterly amazing that a majority of the public is totally ignorant and adopt an English attitude of ‘don’t care’ towards this severe problem. One assumes that this is because for so long these stats have been ignored and swept under the carpet like all social ills in Gsy by successive governments for the sake of the finance industry. Where ever there is wealth there is drugs because ones disposable income increases and the demand for hard drugs increases. We have been lied too for decades regarding the drug culture in the island and the associated health risks, HIV/AIDS, epitasis, and mental health etc and now is the time to make a stand. I know users are injecting viagra if they can not get the medication they are on. The island should support groups such has DMAD and protest about this evil which will destroy our island and our youth eventually. Perhaps some of the areas Gsy should look into in addressing this evil is we require:-

• A rehab centre with 21^st century drug rehab programmes – Perhaps the finance industry can fund this project.
  
• Increase drug awareness education in all schools.
  
• Random drug testing in all work places and schools.
  
• Support groups such has DMAD who are at the sharp end.
  
• An upgrade of our Mental Health Services and facilities
  
• A more open policy and attitude in the drug problems we have here in Gsy so the community can be more aware and vigilant.
  
• Deport anyone who is not local who supplies or deals in providing this evil.
  

A bit draconian you may think but nothing is draconian when dealing with an evil which decimates society and it’s people regardless of age, culture, sex or social class.

They should also have more folks aware of drug drop offs in our bays!
This is so easy to do and i believe how many of the drugs get into the island
I have also been told that drugs are freely available in our prison.this is now so close to the new school the problem could escalate out of control.
The sooner all folks sit up and take notice the better

We agree again Pete this is getting a bit worrying.

i can only say what i have heard.it may not be true,,i certainly hope it is not true as many who go into our prisons have the chance of becoming clean.
But i would still go look at the bays at times
The drug peoblem in our island seems to have been swept under the carpet for some reason.is this so that it is not advertised?