A Co Fermanagh woman fears her daughter will end up dead or in prison due to an addiction to illegal and prescription drugs being sold in the local community.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, said drug dealers in several parts of Enniskillen are benefiting from the misery of many people like her daughter.
Speaking to MyFermanagh , the mother said both her and her daughter’s life had been destroyed by drugs. She said her daughter had overdosed on several occasions and wants those responsible for putting drugs on the streets of Enniskillen to be put behind bars.
READ MORE: Teen arrested after Enniskillen police chase
“We see it on the news every day of the week in Belfast and people think it’s not going on in Enniskillen but it is,” the person said.
“My daughter has completely destroyed her own life and has completely destroyed my life. I’ve had to cut her off from my own life for the sake of my own health.
“It’s just horrendous what she is doing to herself. It feels like you are being judged yourself when your daughter becomes a drug addict.
“She has got herself into a lot of bother with the police and my biggest fear is she is going to either end up in jail or in a coffin.
“My daughter was 17 and had her first job and car and was on top of the world. Unfortunately, she fell in with the wrong people and things just got worse from there.
“Police know who the people are but they seem to be taking a step back and not doing enough about it. I know for every drug dealer they arrest there will be somebody new that comes in.”
The woman added some prescription drugs normally used to treat addictions to opioids such as heroin are now being used regularly by young people in the town.
“A lot of these young people are getting prescription drugs on the black market and a lot of them don’t even know what is in these tablets.
“It’s just everywhere and seems to be a culture now. I just feel like my daughter is going to be one of these statistics.
“I understand from the police’s perspective it’s not just a case of them walking into a drug dealer’s house. But it makes me so angry why nothing is being done about it.
“These people would have no fear in coming to my house and putting a petrol bomb through my door or targeting my car.
“I’m just that angry and I can’t detach myself from the situation because she’s my flesh and blood.”
A spokesperson for local police in the area said tackling drug misuse remains a ‘priority’ for the PSNI.
Neighbourhood Inspector Fallis said: “Tackling drug misuse remains a priority for police and we continue to work hard to keep people safe, and in particular we have a clear focus on the risk and harm resulting from illicit drugs, their supply and demand.
"We constantly monitor crime trends and deploy our resources to the areas of greatest need and vulnerability and regularly run targeted policing operations, working alongside partners to address community concerns.
“In July 2021, we launched Operation DEALBREAKER, which is the Police Service’s operational approach that focuses on supply, misuse and the harrowing impact drug use has on the lives and relationships of people right across the country.
“Drugs supply and demand is a vicious cycle that we need to collectively break, as it feeds wider organised criminality, impacts on our most vulnerable and causes lasting harm and suffering for families and communities. None of this should be tolerated and we all have a part to play.
“We all have a responsibility to help make where we live safer for everyone. Reporting crimes or incidents that impact on your quality of life helps focus our patrols where they are needed and take positive action. Ring us on 101, report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or speak directly to your Neighbourhood Team."
Local councillor and chair of the Fermanagh and Omagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership Paul Blake condemned those behind the supply of illegal drugs locally, and said the community had a part to play in tackling the crime.
“I condemn anyone responsible for funnelling drugs into our community,” Cllr Blake said.
“No family should have to go through what this family has gone through and no one should feel threatened in their own community.”
“I would encourage anyone who has any information on such illegal activity to report it to the police as soon as possible.”
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