More steroid users are using needle exchange service

concerned about the growing misuse of codeine, which is available over the counter in pharmacies.

Members of the environmental and public protection committee and social care and health committee also heard more about the work of Carmarthenshire’s substance misuse team, which received 213 referrals in 2018-19 – more than in previous years.

More than half these were from Llanelli, and 48 of the 213 were people aged 56 and over. By far the largest referral cause was alcohol, followed by heroin.

Councillor Deryk Cundy said these addictions appeared to him “an escape from pain, escape from reality and escape from boredom”.

He added: “I’m pleased with the focus on prevention. Everything else seems like a sticking plaster – an expensive sticking plaster.”