Deaths do not deter heroin users - counsellors

The seven recent deaths of heroin users from unidentified causes is not deterring people from using the drug, counsellors in Dublin have said. They are "just waiting for another death" as a result of the unidentified cause, they added.

Meanwhile, some 70 drug users came forward for assessment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area in the past few days, a spokeswomen has confirmed.

They anticipated a significant increase in this figure in the coming week, she added.

Mr Tony Geoghegan, of the Merchant's Quay Project, said the recent deaths were not making any difference to the numbers taking the drug.

"Ah no, it's in drug-users' nature to use, whatever the risks," he said. The information coming from media reports "was very confusing" to any member of the general public, he said, adding that reports in Sunday papers that the deaths were caused by pure heroin were in conflict with the "read" officials from the Eastern Regional Health Authority had on the situation.

"If it's pure, people just overdose and go over, but this seems to be being caused by infection, whether it's bacterial infection or otherwise."

Ms Sadie Grace, of the Citywide Campaign Against Drugs, said young people were using "as much as ever".

"Of course they are," she said. "And of course they know about the deaths, but it's not going to stop them. It is an awful worry."

Mr Andre Lyder, a community activist in the south inner-city - which has the highest per capita number of young male drug users in the State - said the recent deaths "wouldn't make any difference to people who feel they need to take heroin every day. It might deter some novice users but people are certainly `banging up'.

"It is a major cause of concern and certainly we are just waiting for another heroin death of unknown causes. Of course, about two a week are dying of drugs in this area anyway, but this is an added worry, especially when we don't know what's causing it."

At least two of the people who died are believed to have come from the Crumlin area and to have bought the heroin from the Gallanstown/Ballyfermot area of west Dublin.

Ms Susan Collins, of Crumlin Addiction Response, said yesterday that her organisation had advised clients that there was either pure or contaminated heroin in circulation and to smoke rather than inject if possible.

"But we haven't had any update or heard anything new," she said, adding that young addicts were using as much as they had been before the deaths. A spokeswoman for the Eastern Regional Health Authority said it was continuing its investigation into the seven deaths.

It has been confirmed that one woman and six men have died of unknown causes following the injection of heroin since May 1st. Ms Kristey Murray, an official from the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, US, carried out her first day of investigations into the possible causes of the deaths yesterday.

She will be working with the National Disease Surveillance Centre as well as with the ERHA and the Garda.

A free-phone helpline for drug users concerned about their symptoms can be reached on 1800 459 459.