HSE warned to prepare for flood of cheap, pure heroin

The Health Service Executive is not preparing adequately for a predicted influx of cheap, pure heroin in the coming months, the chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs has warned.

Dr Desmond Corrigan was speaking to The Irish Times following warnings from the UN Office of Drugs and Crime in Vienna of a significant increase in supply and purity of heroin here by October.

The 18 members of the NACD, chaired by Dr Corrigan, are drawn from the health, academic, Garda, voluntary and Government spheres. The committee advises and supports the Government on reducing the health, social and economic consequences of drug abuse. It monitors trends and also provides data.

Dr Corrigan said he felt some in the HSE did not believe increased poppy production in Afghanistan would have an effect here.

"I have been saying for some time we need to pay more attention to what is happening there."

Dr Corrigan wants to see the HSE develop publicity campaigns warning drug users of probable increases in the purity of heroin. He would also like the HSE to prepare to increase treatment places in advance of a probable rise in the number of people presenting for treatment.

He said the HSE was slow to react to warnings four years ago of increased cocaine prevalence.

"I would rather it didn't take so long for systems to respond and that this time, if the impact from Afghanistan does begin to appear, the HSE will look quickly at resources."

Dr Joe Barry, consultant in the public health and population section at the HSE, said there were no plans yet to deal with a sharp increase in heroin purity and supply. He said that if growing numbers sought treatment, there would be extra resources for clinics and clients would be advised of increased purity.

Thomas Pietschmann, senior research analyst with the UNODC in Vienna and a specialist in Afghanistan said there had been a 49 per cent increase in poppy production in Afghanistan last spring. He said there was an 18-month time-lag between the poppy harvest in May 2006 and increased heroin availability here.