Crack cocaine in the Dublin region - Health Research Board

4 Profile of Dublin crack users4.0 OverviewThis section of the report considers international findings which have establishedprofiles of typical crack users (insofar as a ‘typical’ crack user exists). The profile ofcrack users in the Dublin region is presented in terms of gender, age, socio- economicbackground, education levels and accommodation status. This profile is based onNDTRS data, in-depth interviews and focus groups with crack users and serviceproviders, and published surveys.4.1 Introduction – crack users: ‘the marginalised among themarginalised’In the US, where problematic crack use is centred within deprived inner-cityneighbourhoods, users have been described as ‘the marginalised among themarginalised‘ (Fischer and Coghlan 2007: 1340). Problematic crack use in the UScontinues to be most prevalent among African-Americans and Hispanics (Bourgois2003b: 32). Similarly, European studies suggest that a large majority of crack usershave problematic drug histories and live in socially excluded and deprived communities(EMCDDA 2007a; Drugscope 2005). In the UK, analysis of treatment data has shown theprofile of London-based crack users to be slightly different from users of other Class Asubstances (GLADA 2004c). 18 Crack users were more likely to be younger than heroinusers and slightly more likely to be from ethnic minority backgrounds. Frequent userswere reported to be more likely to be residing in deprived areas.However, treatment data can provide profile information only on individuals who seektreatment. Such statistics may reflect only how well treatment services are meetingthe needs of different groups. Ethnographic research has documented the growingnumbers of older opiate users in London who have begun to use crack cocaine (GLADA2004b). The link between females, sex work and crack use has also been underlinedin research (May et al. 1999; Ward et al. 2000). May and colleagues interviewed 67 sexworkers in three different sites and nearly all had used crack cocaine in the monthbefore being interviewed. Furthermore, crack cocaine accounted for over two-thirds oftheir expenditure on drugs (May et al. 1999).18 The UK’s Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 divides controlled substances into three classes (A, B, C), with A beingthe most dangerous. These classes provide a basis for attributing penalties for offences. See http://eldd.emcdda.europa for further information on European drug laws.52 Crack cocaine in the Dublin region: an evidence base for a crack cocaine strategy