Vibrant social scene provides perfect market

Galway's hyperactive social scene is matched by a vibrant "recreational" drink and drugs culture. Ecstasy, at £10 a tablet, and cannabis resin are the main substances on the market in the clubs around the city centre and Salthill, but almost every substance is available - and almost every town in counties Galway and Mayo has some level of activity.

Money does not seem to be a problem for some of the young people, who can spend £50 on tablets during a night out.

Heroin addiction is not regarded as a significant problem by gardai, with about eight to nine addicts registered with the health board. However, cocaine appears to be on the increase. The supply routes for most drugs are through Cork, Limerick and Dublin, and the highly transient nature of the city's fast-growing young population makes for an attractive market.

The drugs unit for Galway West, formed last year and based at Mill Street Garda station, is currently arresting an average of two dealers a week, according to Det Sgt Gerry Roche, the unit's head. Over the last three months, about £70,000 worth of ecstasy tablets and cannabis resin has been recovered, in street operations and combined operations with the clubs. Drugs have also been recovered in county towns such as Gort, Loughrea and Athenry. Mayo's scene is also "active", if smaller in scale, and Galway is regarded as the hub for that county.

Most dealers are local, but Galway has attracted traders from Dublin, Roscommon, Donegal and beyond. The drugs unit of 10 was set up after a survey carried out by Galway gardai in late 1998. Of the young people between 12 and 20 who responded to the questionnaire, 36.9 per cent admitted they had used drugs in the past six months.

Though not considered alarming, the survey indicated an increase of almost 3 per cent in the two years since previous research carried out by the Western Health Board.

The health board appointed a drugs co-ordinator in 1997 to work with other agencies on drugs education, prevention and development of treatment. Its report also identified the need for a substance misuse training officer for health board staff, and a drugs outreach official. Work has been under way on a multi-agency prevention initiative for young people in Galway.