Families from pilot programme paid off drug debts of €136k

A TOTAL of 17 families accessed a pilot programme to assist with drug intimidation, with six of the families paying off debts totalling €136,000.

The 17-week pilot programme by the Community Addiction Response Programme (CARP) in Killinarden ran from November 2021 to March 2022.

The programme was discussed by Grace Hill, coordinator of the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force (TDATF), at a meeting of the South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) last Friday.

“During the pilot, six of the families owed €136k, and the families paid off the debt,” Ms Hill told The Echo.

“There are a lot of reasons why families don’t come forward when they’re being intimidated.

“It could be because of stigma, shame or fear.

“We had advertised the programme as a safe space for them, so it’s great that people did come forward.”

The topic of a Drug Debt Intimidation Safe Home Scheme was also discussed at the JPC meeting, under which the Tallaght and Clondalkin drug task forces will receive €2k each to help to secure the homes of those who are the targets of drug-related intimidation.

Generally, when affected parties reach out to support services, such as the Whitechurch Addiction Support Programme (WASP), an initial assessment of the home is carried out by a representative from WASP who then contacts the local Garda intimidation officer.

The householders are then advised on measures they can adopt to secure their homes, such as the installation of reinforced glass windows, the removal of frontdoor letterboxes, alarm systems, and doorbells with CCTV.

However, sometimes householders can’t afford to implement the suggested security measures.

“There’s a lot of expense in families addressing the things they need to feel more safe and secure in their homes,” added Ms Hill.

The funding provided under the Drug Debt Intimidation Safe Home Scheme aims to alleviate some of the financial burden placed on families, beyond the mounting drug debts they’re contending with.

“People are having to get credit union loans or remortgage their houses to pay off debt,” said Ms Hill.

“Their debt or their loved one’s might build up to €5k, then it’ll go to €8k with interest.

“There’s no morals in doing business with these people, there’s no code of ethics – they don’t tell you how the interest has built up, they just issue threats.”

At the end of this year, the Clondalkin and Tallaght drug and alcohol task forces will provide a report on the use and effectiveness of the funding provided by the Drug Debt Intimidation Safe Home Scheme.

For further information on local community projects that support those with addiction and related issues, visit the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force website at tallaghtdatf.ie.