Juan Ameen
Cocaine 'being used in weddings and village feasts'
The perception that cocaine is a recreational drug used only by the rich no longer holds as experts say it is even being consumed at village feasts, weddings and inside band clubs.
Cocaine was being used by people from all walks of life, the CEO of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, Sina Bugeja said yesterday when launching a campaign targeting the drug.
Last year, Sedqa treated 39 new cases of cocaine abuse, up from the 26 new cases seen in 2007.
"The number of people seeking treatment for cocaine abuse is increasing - next year there will be more," said George Grech, Sedqa's clinical director.
It was no longer a drug taken by the rich for recreational purposes, he said. It was infiltrating all strata of society in different places of entertainment, including weddings, village feasts and band clubs, he pointed out.
The reasons for this surge in cocaine use were cheaper prices and more availability, the experts say.
The trend is also reflected in the recent European drug survey carried out in schools where it emerged that Malta has the highest rate of 15-year-olds who take cocaine when compared to their European peers. Caritas recently saw an increase in the number of cocaine addicts making use of its services, up from 3.2 per cent in 2004 to 24.3 per cent in 2008. At the same time, people seeking help for heroin abuse declined from 80 per cent in 2004 to 63.8 per cent in 2008.
The information comes as the world today marks International Day against Drug Trafficking and Abuse.
Seminars are being held for Maltese professionals, such as social workers, probation and police officers, who come into contact with people who take drugs.
The drug can be sniffed, injected or smoked. Its immediate physical effects include raised breathing rate, raised blood pressure and body temperature and dilated pupils. In the long term, it leads to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. This may result in a full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
J.C. Azzopardi
Jul 1st 2009, 12:50
Naghmel referenza ghal kummenti bla sens tas-sur Fenech. L-argument ma kienx x'isir fil-kazini rigward taghlim u xi kwalita ta taghlim, imma dwar jekk hux veru li hemm minnhom li jmexxu d-droga. Zomm mal-argument jekk joghogbok. Issa jekk fejn tmur int jghallmu l-imbarazz idhol ghati palata forsi bl-ghajnuna tieghek itejbu l-livell. U mhux il-kazini kollha jiehdu hsieb l-armar. U fl-ahhar mill-ahhar intenni li hrigt barra mis-suggett.
Joe Fenech
Jun 28th 2009, 21:43
j.c.azzopardi:
Biex tghallem il-muzika l-ewwel irid ikollok min jghallem. Min kif idoqqu l-baned tinduna li min jghallem huwa ta' livell veru baxx. Kieku l-baned jinvestu aktar flus fil-muzika flok fuq l-imbarazz ta' armar tal-kartapesta u murtali bil-geltina, kieku l-muzika tkun ahjar.
Joe Fenech
Jun 28th 2009, 08:41
Il-kazini tal-banda kulma jaghmlu hu jqazzuna bl-istrobju tal-murtali ghal 3 imghat shah. Hadd ma jiista' jghid li l-festa mhumiex slavag: hlief dagha, glied u - IVA - drogi ma tarax! Il-BANDA tigi l-ahhar bhala prijorita tal-kazini infatti taraha mill-livell baxx taghhom: kulhadd ihanxar u jghaffeg!
salvino p zammit
Jun 27th 2009, 09:04
Naqbel perfettament mad-dakkollu li kitbu kemm JC Azzopardi u korrespondent min San Pawl l-Bahar dwar dan
l-attakk xejn dinituz fuq l-Kazini tal-Banda . Nahseb li l-Awtorita tal-Puluzija ghandna,kif nittama li diga qieghda tghamel, tiehu l-passi kriminali kontra xi hadd mitt jitfa tajn minghajr ma sostnih. L-voluntarji kollha li jahdmu fil kazini tal-banda biex jmexxu l-organizzazjoni taghhom huma nies idixiplinati u responsabli.
j.c.azzopardi
Jun 26th 2009, 13:48
Bhala Segretarju tal-Ghaqda Kazini tal-Banda nhoss li kemm is-sur Grech u wkoll il-korrispondent tieghek naqsu milli jidentifikaw minn KIENU l-Kazini tal-Banda li hallew li titmexxa d-droga fis-sede taghhom. Din hija irresponsabbilta grassa ghaliex kif se tfiehem lil genituri li jhallu l-uliedhom jitghallmu l-muzika li din l-allegazzjoni fondata jew le ma tappartienix lil Kazin fejn imorru uliedhom. Inhossu li l-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija ghandu jibghat ghas-Sur Grech u la semma dak li Mr Ameen qed jikkwotah li qal, ghandu jinvestigah u jekk hemm xi kazin li jippermetti dak li hu allegat ghandhom jittiehdu passi kriminali kontra d-dirigenti taghhom.
Jien qed nassigura li l-Kazin in kwistjoni jkun sospiz mill-Ghaqda Kazini tal-Banda minbarra passi ohra li l-Ezekuttiv jkun jidhirlu li ghandu jiehu kontra tieghu jew taghhom.
Hekk imorru l-affarijiet u mhux nitfghu t-tajn fuq kull Kazin bla ma jintqal min huma dawn il-Kazini.
Nistennew azzjoni immedjata tal-Pulizija u wkoll biex l-ombra li ntefghet fuq il-kazini teskludi lil dawk li huma tal-affari taghhom
J.C. Azzopardi
Segretarju
Ghaqda Kazini tal-Banda.
Vladmir C Forte - General Secretary - St Pauls Band Club
Jun 26th 2009, 13:48
On what grounds this article accuses unfairly ALL Band Clubs ? ? ? I urge the editor to regulate this article and SPECIFY which Band Clubs are involved, providing proof and names if possible. This article is unfair and unjustified on all Band Clubs who struggle to survive and offer there services and teachings for free to all members. The least the media can do is apreciate the time we spend volontarily away from our families. I challenge the newspaper to publish the names of the Clubs and regulate itself fairly with the rest.