A Dublin documentary has shown that crack cocaine dealers are using social media marketing tricks to sell drugs to users.
The documentary by filmmaker Patrick Doran, “Hope In A Crack Epidemic”, looks at the Community Addiction Response Programme in Killinarden in Tallaght, and the growing issues with crack cocaine. It reveals that through tactics such as intimidation, the majority of users are women with little to no family support.
In the documentary, the CARP support team explain that dealers use Snapchat to advertise special offers and deals for crack cocaine, not unlike a two-for-one special in a supermarket. And in other instances, dealers are putting crack through the letterboxes of users despite them not asking for the drug.
The tactic leads to the dealer showing up looking for money, whether the drugs have been used or not. As a result it leads to a cycle of debt that the affected women struggle to get out of.
A pilot programme for young mothers struggling with crack cocaine addiction has been set up by CARP. The documentary looks at the programme which is the first of its kind in Ireland, focusing on mental health and contingency management.
James Kelly from CARP said: “The drug trade is dependent on what’s easy to bulk up and make the most profit off. Unfortunately, crack is one of those drugs and is wreaking havoc on the women and men of Tallaght due to the detrimental impact on people’s overall wellbeing with continued use. In turn, this has a knock-on effect on not only the drug users, but their families and the overall community.
“Crack cocaine, and drug use in general, is everyone’s problem. While we have received funding, it is only on a yearly basis. This funding needs to be guaranteed and prioritised to address the issues addiction services are facing on a daily basis.”
Filmmaker Patrick added: “I want to tell stories and couldn’t think of one more deserving than this. I want to show the impact that crack cocaine has had and how organisations like CARP help people with unbiased support.”
