Push for increased government support for Limerick addiction treatment centre

A LOCAL councillor who works as a drugs education officer has issued a stark warning about the rise of a new so-called “zombie-drug” in Ireland.

Former Mayor Daniel Butler believes the emergence of fentanyl on these shores could have the same impact as heroin when it first arrived in Ireland and result in an “epidemic”.

He was speaking on a resolution at the full council meeting which called for an increased level of financial support to the Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment service which has a centre in Bruree.

Fentanyl is similar to morphine, but is up to 100 times more potent.

“When it takes hold, it’s going to cause a huge amount of issues,” warned Cllr Butler.

“We see it in the United States and Canada where it’s described as a zombie-drug given the effect it has on people. If it does take hold, we could be left with an epidemic.”

He said there are parts of the USA and Canada which have been “completely destroyed” by the substance.

In the USA, the drug is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.

But given its heroin-like effect, there is a thriving illegal market for it.

“I’d nearly think about when heroin took hold in Ireland, its immediate impact on society and crime. I’d be worried about where fentanyl would go and most importantly, the outcome for users. There could be significant harm,” he said.

Users of fentanyl - which he believes anecdotally has landed in Ireland - are often hunched over, Cllr Butler added.

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Members of the local authority unanimously backed the call to write to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Finance Minister Michael McGrath seeking to raise the funding support for Cuan Mhuire from €10 a bed to €50 a bed per night.

The charity’s facility in County Limerick is colloquially known as Bruree House and has space for 160 people facing alcohol, drug and alcohol-related issues.

Independent councillor Eddie Ryan, who co-authored the motion with the other members from the Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district, said: “I've met people who have come out of there cured. A new life, new start for them: it works.

“But they need support. These people are existing on €10 per person per night. They have a system where they farm there, they work there. There are constant church gate collections, fundraisers and all sorts of things to keep it going. We are not taking about big money. They need an increase of €40 per night to keep a person in residence for a week. It’s small money.”

Cllr Butler acknowledged it can be hard for the government to support treatment centres like these, given the difficulty in measuring success rates.

“Relapse can be part of recovery,” he said adding: “Cuan Mhuire and organisations like them are very important because there’s a huge shortage of treatment centres and beds, particularly for young people. It’s vital to support these organisations.”

The increase in open drug-taking, he also argued, is related to both desperation for a user to get a next ‘hit’ and the feeling they will not be stopped.