Injecting cocaine has re-emerged as a trend among drug users in Dublin, a ground-breaking study has found.
The Syringe Analysis Pilot Project is the first of its kind in Ireland where communities and laboratories are working hand in hand. It involves analysis of used syringes to help identify drug use trends – and researcher found injecting cocaine is re-emerging as a problem.
Launched by the HSE in partnership with Merchants Quay Ireland, it involved obtaining 155 used syringes from the Dublin and Midlands Region to identify what’s happening on the ground. And they found that, of the syringes tested, a total of 32 different drugs were found.
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Heroin was the most prominent injected substance (93.3% Dublin and 98.2% Midlands Region). But new drug trends have been identified such as the presence of the synthetic cathinone 3-MMC (11.3% Dublin, 23.6% Midlands) for the first time in this population.
There have also been higher levels of methamphetamine use (32.6% Dublin, 18.2% Midlands) and the possible injection of the benzodiazepine flurazepam in the Midlands region (12.7%) Cocaine injecting has re-emerged as part of a polydrug pattern – the use of multiple drugs at the same time – (86.5% Dublin, 89.1% Midlands).
Professor Eamon Keenan, the national clinical lead of Addiction Services, said: “The volatile nature of the drug market is a healthcare concern as new and more potent substances, including synthetic opioids continue to emerge on the European drug market. I am pleased to see that this project did not identify the emergence of synthetic opioids in the syringe samples.
“However, we must continue to monitor this situation closely. Through this pilot project we have confirmed the presence of new psychoactive substances on the drug market and the re-emergence of cocaine injecting.”
And Prof Keenan said the findings of the study now required “tailored” responses from health agencies – as well as further
monitoring. He added: “The findings from can now be used to inform interventions provided by MQI and other similar services.
Merchants Quay Ireland chief executive Paula Byrne welcomed the study and in particular the information on drug-users in different locations. She said: “The data from this project complements existing data on substances, by providing timely and local information.
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“It was important to include samples from both Dublin and the Midlands. The analysis shows that substance use and trends differed across the two locations. The evidence from this pilot highlights the need to conduct this analysis on an ongoing basis.”
Campaigners claim the analysis makes a case for the implementation of medically supervised injecting centres and called for the project to be expanded.
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