Drugs in Bexhill

ANYONE addicted to crack-cocaine could be capable of murder.

As crack cocaine addict Aaron Goodman begins his life sentence for the murder of his partner's toddler son, a drugs treatment worker gave this sharp warning.

Hard drugs use was on the increase in Bexhill, according to Ben Fitzpatrick, project manager for Adaction in Hastings. And regular users of crack cocaine could be potential killers.

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"There are some instances of hard drug use in Bexhill," he revealed. "There are particular pockets of heavy use in Sidley and the town centre.

"We are beginning to see more people from Bexhill with serious drugs problems.

"And there is potential there for what happened to Aaron Goodman to happen to anyone who uses crack-cocaine.

"It is a dangerous track these people are taking. The particularly forceful properties of crack cocaine are very powerful. For many people when crack takes such a hold on them it is to the exclusion of all else in their lives.

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"If it is used a lot there are mental health problems, paranoia and sleep deprivation associated with it. It is a stimulate and we all know what sleep deprivation can do. There is a great risk of violence, especially if there are children involved. And it is at times like this when tragedies can occur."

Crack cocaine, he said, was more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream than ordinary cocaine and it also wears off quicker. "It means that people who experience a really intense feeling for 10 minutes will want to do it again, sooner.

"And it is not only the craving issue but also the cost. If people are spending 20 a time every half hour, it soon mounts up.

"I have known one addict spend 40,000 in six months on his habit.

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"But the treatment does and can work. People have gone through crack-cocaine addiction and come through the other side,

"Each 1 spend on drug treatment is worth 3 saving on the cost to society. It does work and what we need is more resources for more treatment."