A GROWING number of Travellers are experimenting with illegal drugs such as ecstasy, amphetamines, cannabis and cocaine as their community’s culture becomes increasingly fragmented, new research has found.
The study also found that problematic alcohol use is increasingly common among Traveller men and single Traveller women.
The study, Substance Misuse in the Traveller Community – A Regional Needs Assessment, was carried out for the Western Region Drugs Task Force by Marie Claire Van Hout of Waterford Institute of Technology.
Ms Van Hout looked at alcohol and other drug uses among Travellers in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and her report is based on interviews and focus groups with almost 60 members of the Travelling community and 45 service providers.
Agency workers reported that cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy use appeared to be increasing, particularly among young people while prescription drugs were being misused by Traveller women.
The study found that unemployment dramatically increased the risk of substance experimentation.
Ms Van Hout said there was a need for specific interventions that take account of Traveller identity and culture. “Travellers find it very difficult to work in groups which are a norm in residential treatment settings. There are also few positive role models within their peer group and community who have successfully dealt with addiction,” she said.
