A Cork health intervention programme has seen 189 young cocaine users avoiding a criminal conviction in favour of the rehabilitation programme.
A court-referral programme in Cork has seen 189 young cocaine users avoiding a criminal conviction and diverted into a health intervention, the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs has heard.
The programme is driven by local district court judge, Olann Kelleher, and is operated in conjunction with HSE South and Coolmine.
Joe Kirby of HSE Cork/Kerry said that of the 189 young people referred, more than nine out of 10 attended, which he described as really high, and that 11% of these were referred on for specialist health intervention.
