FAMILIES WHO HAVE suffered at the hands of drug dealers are to receive a range of new supports from the garda drugs unit, including a confidential report service .

The programme, launched by the HSE’s National Family Support Network in conjunction with the Gardaí, aims to respond to the needs of drug users and family members who are experiencing drug-related intimidation.

Reports of physical violence, death threats, damage to property and sexual offences have been made by family members of those caught in the drugs trade. Others try to pay off family member’s debt by further involvement in illegal activity.

A number of inspectors have now been selected to deal with the issue of intimidation and can be contacted for an informal meeting. An initial meeting will not always involve a formal complaint, something that individuals can be reticent about.

“Intimidation is the most frightening and stressful experience…whether you or someone close to you is the target,” said one family member. “The fear and pain it generates is insurmountable and speaking for myself I ended up like a headless chicken running around in circles trying to solve a problem I didn’t have a clue about.

“Thanks to the support I got from the National Family Support Network and the facilitator of my family support group, I stopped, took a breath and went to the guards, whom I found very helpful….It eventually ended and I will always be grateful to family support for helping me through a very frightening period.”

The NFSN has said the problems have worsened in reason years, in line with a drop in family income due to the recession.

Spokesperson Sadie Grace explained:

We heard stories of families remortgaging their house, they were going to Credit Unions,  they were going to families and friends or neighbours to borrow money. That’s not available to families anymore. People don’t have money anymore. Because of this, family members are coming forward to look for support.

According to gardaí, debts can often arise after drugs are seized by the drugs unit.

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