This report was prepared on foot of concerns expressed at Task Force meetings by representatives of local statutory and voluntary sector drug-related services, about growth in the use of crack cocaine among drug users in contact their services.

While services report that there are few drug users solely using crack, they are concerned that given the nature of crack cocaine dependency, there is potential for it to become the only drug used by many individuals. Were this to happen, the ensuing problems could have detrimental effects on the health ofindividual drug users, their children, families and the wider community.

Alongside this, the local Garda Drug Squad are seizing significant quantities of crack cocaine locally in recent years. The Garda have also reported at Drug & Alcohol Task Force meetings on the growing sophistication of crack cocaine production in the Finglas area. After considering these concerns, the Task Force decided there was a need to investigate this further through a process of direct contact with drug users on the street in the Task Force area.