Pubdate: Thu, 25 May 2000
Source: Irish Times, The (Ireland)
Copyright: 2000 The Irish Times
Contact:  11-15 D'Olier St, Dublin 2, Ireland
Fax: + 353 1 671 9407
Website: http://www.ireland.com/
Author: Judith Crosbie
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n692/a01.html

HOSPITALS ON ALERT AFTER DUBLIN HEROIN DEATHS

Hospitals in Dublin have been put on alert after a number of unexplained 
deaths involving heroin-users.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority has informed casualty units in Dublin 
hospitals that the deaths of some heroin users in the last two weeks could 
be due to contaminated drugs. It has asked for information from hospitals 
on any new cases.

The health authority confirmed that five of the 10 heroin users admitted to 
hospital between May 13th and May 24th have died. It said four of the 
deaths were similar to a cluster of deaths in Glasgow, where 11 people 
died. Three of the remaining patients have been discharged and two are 
still being treated in hospital.

The Minister of State responsible for anti-drugs policy, Mr Eoin Ryan, said 
emergency methadone buses were being provided to dispense methadone to 
heroin users in areas where no such facilities existed. The health 
authority said that, following the deaths, the buses were being made 
available to heroin users who wanted treatment to come off heroin. A total 
of 400 people are on waiting lists for methadone.

A warning was issued to drug users yesterday concerning possible heroin 
contamination, saying there was need for extreme vigilance with regard to 
heroin use. The health authority said people should seek medical help 
immediately if they experienced any unusual illnesses.

Notices were also sent to all drug treatment clinics and health centres in 
the area as well as general practitioners. Staff were asked to report back 
to the health board with any information which might help clarify the 
causes of the recent deaths.

The health authority has speculated that the recent deaths might be due to 
contaminated heroin or a very pure batch of the drug.

Three people who died of heroin overdoses in the last six days include Mr 
Karl O'Shea, Mr Maureen Gleeson and Ms Rosie Lakes. Gardai say it is 
unlikely that Ms Lakes was killed because of her connections with 
investigations into the murder of Ms Sinead Kelly on Dublin's Grand Canal 
in June 1998, as has been reported. Gardai in Crumlin say they are involved 
in a murder investigation but have not linked the two deaths.

Ms Gleeson and Ms Lakes were from Crumlin and Mr O'Shea was originally from 
Crumlin but was living in Rathmines. Although there had been reports that 
the three attended a party together last Monday, gardai in Terenure have 
said that only Mr O'Shea attended the party.

Post-mortems have shown that Ms Gleeson died from a ruptured spleen while 
Mr O'Shea died of pneumonia. Gardai said these conditions may have been 
brought on by a heroin overdose. Mr O'Shea was known to gardai locally who 
said he was in bad health prior to his death.

Insp Tom Mulligan in Crumlin said there was no evidence to suggest 
contamination of heroin and that the deaths at this stage were 
"suspicious". Samples have been sent to a toxicology unit to test for 
possible contaminated drugs.

Mr Tony Geoghegan of the Merchants Quay Project, the largest voluntary 
drugs support project, which offers needle exchange, said some of the 
people who had died from overdoses in recent weeks were known to staff.

Mr Geoghegan said that it was unlikely that pure heroin was causing death 
because this should not affect long-term users who would have a high 
tolerance to heroin.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D