'This is a sea change in Wexford. They are the poor man's cocaine ... people become dependent on.' €1 drugs warping teenagers’ brains

So says Project Coordinator of the Cornmarket Project, Paul Delaney. 'The biggest change we have seen is a move towards synthetic type drugs. We just got an alert from the HSE that there is a dangerous batch of fake Benzodiazepines (Benzos) specifically doing the rounds in the south east. They don't issue alerts that often.'

Mr Delaney attributes the alert to a manifestation of the sheer amount of counterfeit drugs readily available in the community. 'They are coming in by the usual routes. A lot of them seem to have been emanating from Eastern Europe where they can replicate benzos. There is anecdotal evidence that at the height of the pandemic when everyone was ordering online that - even though our colleagues in Customs & Excise for an excellent job trying to intercept parcels - the massive amount meant they couldn't keep up with everything. Even if a few get nabbed they're not big seizures.'

He said the issue for young people is a decade ago they would be trying cannabis or ecstasy. 'Now your local dealer is a bit like a mini supermarket. You go there looking for cannabis and they will offer you some form of new drugs. This a sea-change in Wexford which has happened over the last couple of years. Truly a whole sea-change has taken place. An awful lot of these tablets and capsules mimic the rush type effect. They are the poor man's cocaine; stimulant drugs which people become dependent on. As with anything that neurologically overloads the brain; it gives you that buzz. Equally this leads to a massive come down.'

Mr Delaney said he has seen first hand how the drugs distort people's thinking, making them aggressive.

'If you are dealing with someone who is addicted to cannabis they are docile and calm. But if they are taking strong synthetic drugs they can become very aggressive. There is a lot of fake Xanax out there. That seems to be the trendy drug with school kids. They can be bought for €1 a tablet.'

Bought in blistex packs, they are taken frequently using pocket money.

'They really distort young people's minds. Benzos are also cheap, costing as little as €2 a tablet and they are very readily available. If people are trying to block out physical or psychological pain they turn to them.''

As the Cornmarket Project was designated an essential service in March 2020 its staff have continued to host support group meetings at Spawell Road in Wexford.

'We have kept our doors open. We have managed to bring clients in because a lot of clients are really in need of contact with our services. We have small, socially distanced groups which have been a lifesaver for some people.

'I was talking to someone the other day who was seven years off alcohol and drugs. The person relapsed during the pandemic and said they would have been in the river if not for the Cornmarket drugs group sessions. I knew by him that he wasn't exaggerating because of the desperation and sense of failure he felt having relapsed.'

Mr Delaney fears the drugs issue has not been a big talking point nationally for years.

'During the covid it definitely hasn't as people were trying to deal with the pandemic, but long before that there was a lack of urgency being shown around drugs in Ireland.'

When asked if a national conversation is needed about drug use, Mr Delaney said: 'It is because it can take years for national politics to catch up. In the meantime we are exposing people to a lot of dangers as there are a lot of fake Xanax out there. That seems to be the trendy drug with school kids. That can be bought for €1 a tablet.'

Bought in blistex packs, they are taken frequently using pocket money. 'They really distort young people's minds. Benzos are also cheap, costing as little as €2 a tablet and they are very readily available. If people are trying to block out physical or psychological pain they turn to them.'

Last week the HSE issued a warning abut fake Benzos on the market in the south east.

'Tolerance to benzodiazepinesdevelops quickly which can lead to people using more, increasing the risk of dependency as well as overdose. It is dangerous to suddenly stop using benzodiazepines if you have developed a dependency. Don't suddenly stop using as withdrawal can be unpredictable and could cause fits or seizures. Get medical support if you want to stop using,' a HSE spokesperson advised.

* Further coverage in the May 11th issue of The New Ross Standard