Drug dealers targeting children

UNSCRUPULOUS drug dealers in Strabane are targeting children as young as 12-years-old.

In an incident in the Waterwall area at the weekend a passer-by witnessed a bag of drugs being handed out the window of a car to a group of young people aged between 12 and 14-years-old.

It is understood the children subsequently dropped the bag and ran away.

The incident has heightened concerns about the availability of prescription drugs locally.

Strabane independent councillor, Paul Gallagher said what happened raised the need for action now to address the use of drugs among young people.

He said Strabane AYE (Access Youth Engagement) project, is working on a series of initiatives aimed at addressing the problem, but explained what is happening isn’t unique to the Strabane area.

“The car pulled up at the Waterwall and six young lads were leaning in the window.

“The vehicle then sped up and the young boys dropped the bag which had 180 tablets in it,” Cllr Gallagher explained.

“Our message is ‘No More’. The destruction these drugs can do at any age is terrible, but at a young age like 12 or 14 the devastation could be even worse because their bodies and life skills haven’t fully developed yet These young lads didn’t have the maturity to stand up for themselves and they just ended up running away.

“It’s adults who are selling these drugs to kids, and not 20 year-olds spreading them among themselves. This has to stop and over the next while Strabane AYE will be dealing with this in some form,” Cllr Gallagher explained.

“We won’t be adopting a vigilante approach, but what’s happening needs to be addressed.

“The situation has got worse and has gone past the stage of just hearing about something like this and condemning it.

“There needs to be a consolidate strategy which will unfold over the next few weeks.”

Cllr Gallagher says he is aware of a number of deaths in recent months which are drug-related. But he warns that action is needed to highlight the potential drug connections to each of these fatalities.

“The most worrying thing about these types of incidents are that they have the potential to suck young people into taking drugs,” he added.
“The battle against drugs is going to be won in the homes, particularly among those aged 12 and in their teenage years.”