Drug use increasing in Tipperary

The number of drug offences in Tipperary showed a steep rise up to the end of last December, figures that sparked concern from members attending the February meeting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee.

The number of offences for possession of drugs for personal use in the county was up by 39 per cent, while offences for the sale or supply of drugs was up by 48 per cent.

Chief Superintendent for Tipperary Derek Smart said the drug industry was driven by demand and that demand was “huge”.

People had to be supported through education not to use drugs. A difficulty for gardaí was that those who ended up owing drug suppliers money were reluctant to make a statement to gardaí who in turn could not then act against the suppliers. Support was available from the gardaí for people who found themselves in this situation.

The only ones benefiting from the illegal drug trade was those involved in organised crime.

Roscrea-based councillor Shane Lee said there were some very worrying trends in regard to drug use. It was alarming to see the rate at which drugs were getting into communities.

While great work was being done by the gardaí to tackle the problem, communities in his own constituency were being “torn asunder” by drug dealers.

How the drugs were getting into towns and villages was a mystery to him given the number of checkpoints mounted by gardaí due to Covid travel restrictions.