The issue of drugs has become a huge cause of concern for Gardai in Donegal after the latest crime figures show a huge surge in demand and use of drugs.
Figures released to the Joint Policing Committee meeting held in Lifford show a staggering spike in drug use across the county last year compared to 2018.
Driving under the influence of drugs has hit record levels with 441 detections last year compared to 250 in 2018.
In recent weeks a new initiative between the Letterkenny Traffic Policing Unit and the drugs squad has seen Gardai mount routine traffic stops in the daytime.
This has resulted in a huge spike in people being detected for driving under the influence of drugs.
Four drivers were stopped two weeks ago in the same afternoon in Letterkenny and all tested positive for drugs in their system.
The general use of drugs has also rocketed, according to the latest figures seen by Donegal Daily.
The arrests for so-called ‘simple’ possession of drugs has gone from 234 in 2018 to a worrying 375 last year while.
On top of this arrests for the sale and supply of illegal drugs across Donegal went from 273 in 2018 to a staggering 457 last year.
As well as cannabis, the spike in the recreational use of cocaine is a cause for huge concern amongst Gardai.
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