'Friends' Supply Most NI Cocaine

So-called 'friends' are responsible for supplying most of the illegal drugs being used in Northern Ireland.

An official survey has found that almost three quarters of recent users of cocaine powder had obtained it from someone known to them - contrary to the generally held view that such suppliers are strangers, with whom the user has little or no connection.

In addition some 40% had actually been given the cocaine powder by a family member, and just over one fifth (21%) said it had been shared amongst friends while 13% had bought it from a friend.

The NI Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety published a its latest statistical bulletin presenting key findings from the second official survey.

The bulletin, 'Drug Prevalence Survey: Cocaine Results' was published jointly with the National Advisory Committee on Drugs in Ireland.

It relates to a survey carried out jointly in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland between October 2006 and May 2007.

Key findings relating to cocaine prevalence in Northern Ireland include that cocaine powder accounted for the majority of cocaine use and that 'crack cocaine' use was very limited.

Prevalence rates for cocaine powder and/or crack combined were higher among younger respondents - the lifetime prevalence rate for those aged 15-34 (9%) was approximately four times that for those aged 35-64 (2%).

Male respondents reported higher prevalence rates for cocaine and/or crack combined than females across all time periods. The lifetime prevalence figure for males was 7% compared to 3% for females.

The average age that respondents reported that they had first used cocaine powder was 22. The average age of first regular use was 23.

It was also discovered that over half (56%) of recent users reported that cocaine powder was either 'fairly easy or 'very easy' to obtain, while 30% said it was 'fairly difficult' or 'very difficult' to obtain.

Of respondents who stated that they had ever taken cocaine powder, 8% said that they had used it regularly.

All of these respondents who had used cocaine powder regularly said that they had stopped taking it.

However, the vast majority (85%) of respondents who had never used cocaine powder or crack felt that there was a 'great risk' associated with trying these drugs once or twice.

Whereas almost half (45%) of those who had used cocaine powder or crack felt that there was a 'great risk' associated with trying these drugs once or twice.

(BMcC)