Scourge of drug addiction is sweeping through Offaly's farming community
Some farmers forced to sell assets to pay drug dealers
The scourge of drug addiction is sweeping through Offaly's farming community, a Councillor told the April monthly meeting of Offaly County Council.
Cllr Hughie Egan pointed out during the meeting that he wanted to highlight this serious issue “because in rural Ireland it is a much bigger problem than many realise. Over the last six months or so some of the stuff which has come to my attention has really shocked me. It has opened my eyes to what is going on out there at the moment among young farmers.”
The Councillor said some farmers get deep into debt because of their drug addiction and as a result they have to sell their assets such as machinery and livestock. He said he is keenly aware of the adverse consequences which this scourge is having on the families of those suffering from drug addiction. He pointed out that it is very important that this serious subject is highlighted and focussed on in our society and in our media.
“Drug addiction is no longer just an urban thing,” he pointed out. “It is everywhere. It is not just young farmers suffering from this. “I know of people in their 40s and 50s who are suffering from drug addiction."
The Councillor called on the Offaly Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) to highlight the issue during its meetings. LCSPs replaced the former Joint Policing Committees which ran for many years. LCSPs bring together residents, community groups, An Garda Síochána, and statutory agencies to improve safety in their respective counties.
Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy agreed with Cllr Egan. She said she is on the LCSP and they recently listened to a presentation about the scourge of drug addiction in Offaly. “It was jaw dropping,” she commented. “It is very worrying.” She said the HSE should arrange training sessions for Councillors so they can learn the best ways to approach this problem when they come across it in their communities. “It is coming more and more to our attention and some training could be very useful.” She pointed out that alcohol addiction also remains, of course, profoundly damaging to society.
Cllr Aoife Masterson pointed out that Class A drugs are getting more popular in both urban and rural Ireland. She said she knew someone in Westmeath who overdosed on cocaine mixed with fentanyl and died. “Some of his friends were actually using drugs during his funeral.” Cllr Masterson commented that the drug problem is not a class issue nor mainly an urban issue. “This problem is impacting absolutely everybody.”
“We have all stood in queues going into young people's houses,” remarked Cllr Egan. “I had to take a young fellow down from a tree one time. It is devastating.”
Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, said there has been a “huge shift” in society's culture over the years which has led to this problem. “I too am coming across incidents where farmers are having to sell their assets to pay their drug debts. I have heard of some people being targeted by drug dealers and being beaten severely. There is a lot of fear out there in society.”