Limerick GAA legend highlights growth in cocaine use amongst farmers

COCAINE was always thought of as a drug to be found in the cities and large towns but those days are long gone as it has permeated down to Limerick villages and crossroads.

According to a new study involving 351 Irish farmers, one-in- three drink alcohol at harmful levels, with one-in-20 taking drugs, with most of them doing so to a risky degree.

The study was published in the Journal of Rural Health following research from a team in Dublin City University.

Ciarán Carey, Limerick hurling great and addiction counsellor at MyMove Counselling, was invited on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 to give his expert insight on the rise.

“Definitely. There has been a huge increase in the last three years in the farming community. Now, to be fair, it's important to stress that cocaine presently is across every sector in the country.

“The farmer is no different to anybody else who is engaging in addiction because the last thing he’s thinking of when they’re engaging in their first few lines of cocaine is that in the next two, three or four years that they could be in the trenches and in a deep hole in the throes of addiction unfortunately,” said Mr Carey.

Claire Bryne noted it doesn’t fit with the image of an Irish farmer.

“There would be a certain amount of people out there taking cocaine so they can drink longer and also there’s a certain amount of farmers taking cocaine so they can stay on the tractor and drive longer also, believe it or not. That is what I’m listening to at the ground level,” said Mr Carey.

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The addiction counsellor said anyone who is engaging with cocaine is thinking they won’t be as bad as Mr X or Ms Y but, unfortunately, the longer you engage in it, the addiction becomes stronger.

Rural isolation was also mentioned as a contributing factor.

“Of course it plays a role, and at the end of the day every one of us is responsible for our own mental health and looking after ourselves - in the farming community that is no different.

“It’s so important that they have a bit of balance and a bit of downtime and if they haven’t that and if they are not looking after themselves or their mental health, then they seem to be drawn or pulled whether it’s to alcohol or cocaine and they think that will fix or help them but unfortunately anybody who is engaged in addiction often enough, and long enough, it's worse it gets.”

Mr Carey said judging by phone calls and the two programmes they are rolling out in MyMove Counselling, cocaine has become hugely prevalent in the last 12 months.

“Definitely. Within the last six or seven months, it’s gone through the roof between the ages of 21 up to about 33, across the board but definitely in the farming community also. “I’d nearly be bold enough to put my head on the chopping block and say we are not too far away from an epidemic when it comes to cocaine in this country,” said Mr Carey, who witnessed a drug deal in front of him while waiting outside a restaurant.

He believes the only way to address it is with a response similar to the Covid pandemic.

If you have been affected by this article, MyMove Counselling can be contacted at 061 639010; HSE Drugs and Alcohol helpline 1800459459.