People in Ireland have one of the highest cocaine use rates in Europe, according to a new study.
The EU drug marketing report shows Ireland is among a “handful” of countries where cocaine use remains “relatively high,” particularly among young adults.
The reports claims that Spain, the UK, Italy, and Denmark also have high rates of cocaine use.
Cocaine is the most popular drug in Europe after cannabis. An estimated 5 percent of the population aged between 5 and 64 have tried the drug at least once, the findings show.
Read More: Irishman dies in Venezuela after condom full of cocaine bursts in his stomach
The Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) report warns “Labelled at one point as the ‘champagne of drugs’ because of its high price and associations with the rich and famous, cocaine snorted in powder form has found acceptance amongst drug users in recreational settings.
“However, the numbers of primary cocaine users in treatment belie the drug’s benign image.”
The research also shows that Ireland is being used as a gateway for cannabis smuggling from Morocco into Europe.
Key findings of the report include:
• Ireland is used by Vietnamese and Chinese organized crime gangs cultivating home-grown cannabis.
• The State has the highest rate of use of new drugs or so-called “legal highs.”
• Polish and Lithuanian gangs are reportedly trafficking drugs from the Netherlands into Ireland.
The findings state Ireland remains a “north west gateway” for cannabis resin into Europe.
“Average seizure sizes greater than 1kg suggest that Ireland is also an entry point for Moroccan resin into Europe,” the report states.
“Resin seizures represent about 15 per cent of estimated national consumption; it is likely that some of the resin entering Ireland eventually ends up in the UK, where the market for resin, although smaller than the market for herb, is still rather large, estimated to be about seven times the size of the Irish market.”
“Chinese nationals have also been reported to grow cannabis commercially in countries including Ireland and the United Kingdom,” the report adds.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Smyrnian | Feb 04, 2013, 05:11 PM EST
More self hate from IC which seems to specialize in this self flagellation.
merefalow | Feb 04, 2013, 04:19 PM EST
there is nothing benign about this or skunk cannabis,THE SO CALLED WAR ON DRUGS IS NON EXISTANT,IN EUROPE OR USA.IF THERE WAS A REAL WAR ON IT THEY WOULD INTRODUCE THE death PENALTY FOR DEALING LIKE THAT MULE IS FACING IN INDONESIA,THATS WHAT YOU CALL A DETERANT.
connemaragirl | Feb 04, 2013, 03:11 AM EST
This really saddens me for a such a small Country,it explains all the suicide among the young,not to mention the young age they all start drinking and nobody seems to mind them doing it,the parents are out with them and forget morals they're all fooling around,when I visit I'm embarrassed for them, I have no idea why my family laughs at me.
angrypaddy | Feb 04, 2013, 12:45 AM EST
Cocaine Paddy Celtic Tiger,The Politicians were at it to
cillowen | Feb 03, 2013, 11:39 PM EST
its nothing but soft phorn and multiculturalism and me partners this and that laced with feckin and blinding. Was curious seeing the power Shatter and ilk has over natives.
Searlit | Feb 03, 2013, 07:35 PM EST
I agree. I would like to see some stories in Irish. Short stories, at first
Mousemess | Feb 03, 2013, 02:26 PM EST
Is mithid don IC scealta eigin ata scriofa i nGaeilge a dheanamh. It's high time for IC to do some stories written in Irish since Irish is the (according Bunreacht na hEireann/the Irish constitution, the Irish language is the first official language of Eire/Ireland and English is the other language of Eire/Ireland)
Ms.Gail | Feb 03, 2013, 01:32 PM EST
Shame, guess it's time for IC to do some stories about AA, NA and Alanon in US Irish Americans and in Ireland.
handsome68 | Feb 03, 2013, 09:29 AM EST
Dang. IC is just chock full o good news, ain't you? All the news that fits, we print, should be your motto.