Kilkenny's Aislinn Centre has been approved for Government funding of €18,500 to employ a therapist to help cocaine users to kick their addiction.
Welcoming the allocation, Councillor Andrew McGuinness said, "cocaine has become a very popular drug among young people in Kilkenny who may not realise the consequences of taking it. However, funding is being made available, and centres like Aislinn in Ballyraggett are doing great work to combat the problem."
He added that Kilkenny also needs to tackle the issue of heroin addiction as lives are being ruined as a result of the drug.
"We seem to be losing the battle with heroin. Families are being torn apart and petty crime is on the increase as a result," he said.
"The real problem here is that there is no proper structure in place in Kilkenny to help a heroin addict to get through the difficult stages from addiction to coming clean. A heroin addict cannot get into a rehabilitation centre unless they can prove they are clean and there is nothing in place in Kilkenny to assist an addict in actually getting clean," he said.
According to Councillor McGuinness, a united approach between all bodies involved in combating drugs, public representatives, an Garda Siochana, reformed users and parents of addicts, is the only thing that will result in a possible solution.
“Parents with heartbreaking stories of addicted children whose lives are destroyed visit our constituency office regularly seeking help. There are many avenues that need to be explored. Maybe Kilkenny needs a methadone centre? The idea of needle exchange needs to be explored, better education on the issue in schools, but more importantly, we need some sort of a drop-in centre to help addicts kick the killer habit. All these possibilities need to be trashed out among people who are directly involved with this issue," he said.
