Drug availability is "largely unaffected" by Garda and Customs’ operations and drug markets are more "integrated" than ever in communities, according to a landmark piece of research.
The official report said more young people — including children as young as nine — are being recruited into a trade increasingly marked by violence.
However, the research, conducted over three years, said Garda activity can “contain” the problem and does provide “respite” to intimidated communities and instils confidence among residents in the police.
The study, commissioned by the Government’s drug advisory body, said not all drugs and markets were the same. It said the focus should be on those markets causing most harm to communities, such as dealing of heroin and crack and where children are used.
Lead author Johnny Connolly said the growing debate internationally about decriminalisation was an “important debate” and suggested that the Garda adult cautioning system could be expanded to include drug possession cases.
The research, co-written by Anne Marie Donovan, is the first of its type in Ireland and examined drug markets in four areas in the country.
The researchers interviewed drug dealers and gardaí in national and local drug units and customs officers. The study accessed the Garda Pulse system and conducted the most detailed analysis yet of drug purity levels at the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 24/10/14
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