CONCERN AT RISE IN SEDATIVE DRUG USE
XANAX and psychoactive drugs – which when mixed with alcohol can lead to an overdose – are on the rise among young people in the county.
The Cornmarket Project has witnessed a 50 per cent increase in clients over recent years, with 430 people availing of its services in 2017, according to figures released last week.
Cornmarket Project Coordinator Paul Delaney said Wexford teenagers who are into rap music, are using Xanax – a drug 20 times more powerful than valium. Sourced through the internet, the drug is delivered to houses in the county and is becoming popular with youths and people in their twenties.
Mr Delaney said: ‘It has gained a bit of street cred because of its associations with rap music, in which it is referred to as Xannies. A lot of young people are influenced by rap music.’
The drug is available through medical websites. ‘They don’t even have to go through the dark web; there are some obvious providers online. You are supposed to complete an online consultation with a doctor but it’s a front. It’s not a speedy MDMA-type drug. It’s more akin to a chilled out buzz. It’s used to treat anxiety. It’s a very strong sedative.’
Concerned that its innocuous medical form may not be spotted by parents or teachers, who may mistake the Xanax tablets for medicine, Mr Dealeny said it is being used with alcohol and could result in an overdose.
Xanax has been the first drug some Wexford youths have tried suggesting it is popular among teenagers.
‘It has cropped up in Wexford town, but is just as likely to be available in Gorey, New Ross and Enniscorthy. There is almost a subculture who are into it. These things go around like wildfire in communities.’
Bonzai, a psychoactive substance sprayed on cannabis, is still available. Mr Delaney highlighted the growth in Xanax, synthetic ecstasy and Bonzai use to a HSE substance manager recently.
The prescription drug culture which has devastated America has not been felt here, but drugs like cocaine and heroin are still readily available in the county, Mr Delaney said. ‘There was a joke that cocaine was a Celtic Tiger drug but now with the economy coming back and taking off again, it’s back.’
A difficulty in banning drugs, like the latest form of ecstasy, is that the drug makers keep changing the chemical compounds. ‘They are coming in from Eastern Europe and China and are very dangerous. The problem with psychoactive drugs is that they distort people’s cognitive abilities. We have had to deal with really challenging behaviour in the Cornmarket Project. They are used across the spectrum from young teenagers to people in their 20s.’
He said the problem is that there is no alternative medical substitute for these drugs, unlike with heroin where methodone is available. ‘More Counselling needs to be offered. There is a new local training initiative in New Ross and more centres like that need to be developed, for teenagers who are at a loose end, hanging around. They may be early school leavers or unemployed, The counselling needs to be properly trageted.’
The Cornmarket Project’s funding was cut by 30 per cent in 2009 and has not be reinstated.
‘We’ve had a year on year increase in clients of 20 per cent. It’s just unsustainable for us. We are going to have to start operating waiting lists if our funing isn’t increased. But waiting lists would not work as clients need to be seen straight away.’
The body receives €152,000 annually. It has 18 staff, some of whiom are paid through a CE scheme.
‘What has increased significnatly is insurance, it’s €10,000 a year for the CE workers. We have a good relationship with the HSE but we need more central funding.’