Forum Topic

Drug problem in Chiswick

It is so sad to hear of the two women who have died recently, allegedly as a result of drug abuse. Just seemed all too predictable. It did not take a genius to spot the shifty looking folk prowling around Devonshire Road and the High Road - the young lads on bikes, the men with increasingly dishevelled women, the rampant shoplifting. Surely we need more local police - and more support for homeless people - with some actual action from local authorities who seem absent when it comes to this growing problem in London!

Emma Elizabeth ● 1060d20 Comments

We need more life chances and positive alternatives for the poor as well as all that.Fat chance.

Keith Iddon ● 1060d

So true. There is enough wealth here to provide the protection needed for the most vulnerable. Those with local authority need to do more. We all do.

Emma Elizabeth ● 1060d

Sadly some people are beyond help whether through mental health or addiction issues. There is a lot of support from charities as well as local authorities but if they don’t accept help other than sectioning them what can we do….it’s a tough one.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1060d

Very few peeople are 'beyond help'in my opinion.

Keith Iddon ● 1060d

Totally agree Keith. Is there any help? We’ve got millions being spent on selfish projects. Time to get our priorities sorted.

Maggie Dodge ● 1060d

How do we do that,I wonder?

Keith Iddon ● 1060d

I tried to help one such individual one evening in the park opposite the tube station, alcohol addiction, the lady had fallen over. I managed to keep her talking having called an ambulance for nearly 2 hours.  When the crew arrived they patched her up but she refused to go to hospital and walked off. It’s only one example from my own experienced but apart from sectioning her how do you help them?

Jayne Thorburn ● 1060d

Chiswick has a particular problem not because of the lack of police but because there is a two tier market here for dealers. Their business wouldn't be viable if it was dependent on a handful of street addicts, they make most of their money from more prosperous W4 residents whether it is middle class kids buying weed or the Class A dinner party set. I don't think anybody other than the dealers really knows the size of the local market but one restaurant owner told me that, if a delivery rider agrees to carry drugs, about a quarter of their trips on a shift will be for this purpose. As what they are paid is so low, many of them are forced into do this.Although we don't know for sure that two women have died due to drugs, this seems highly likely given the facts of the two cases. This alone undermines claims that middle class recreational drug use is a victimless crime. Hopefully a fear that suppliers are getting their mix wrong and delivering potentially fatal doses will discourage people from supporting this market. The problem is that it is already huge - a significant and growing number of shops in the area are fronts for laundering money that comes from this trade.

Anita Blake ● 1059d

Nothing discourages them it's been going on a very long time we noticeit more because they feel safer being near people these days insteadthe more secluded areas.

Janice Evans ● 1059d

You are probably right when it comes to street addicts and it is a good point that even they feel a need for safety. The hope would be that if Chiswick professionals think there is a risk that their coke is being cut with opioids to make it more addictive they might lay off it.

Anita Blake ● 1059d

those who take it don't seem to care it's as if they have a death wish going on, maybe find it difficult to deal with life, you have to be so resilient to getthrough life most of the people I know don't find it easy but are strong enough not to turn to drugs.

Janice Evans ● 1059d

It is only speculation at the moment that drugs in the area are having more addictive substances added to them. However, you would expect two long term users to be better at handling their dosage than the occasional middle class recreational user. It does raise the question if there was a death of someone locally who wasn't living on the street would the cause of death be picked up? The coroner might not think a toxicology test was needed.

Mark Evans ● 1059d

Problems ?Its LIVE and VIEWERS ARE WARNED that you may find parts destressing,but this is when you have a problem on the streets and a total break down in society.Camera 1

Julian Pavey ● 1059d

Camera 2 Again LIVE so VIEWERS ARE WARNED that you may find parts destressing

Julian Pavey ● 1059d

Addiction how do we tackle this….section people? Super sad

Jayne Thorburn ● 1058d

Hands up who’s not taking drugs?

Bryan Turner ● 1058d

well I don't and have seen what it does as recently lost a nephew to drugs,they start off by thinking they can control the use, until something goes wrong in their life then they move to something stronger and so it goes onuntil eventually it takes them away from us.  Very sad.

Janice Evans ● 1058d

I agree with all your comments........We as decent law abiding residents really really really need police out on the beat !........Even in the pioneering days of The Wild West the communities placed their trust in The Sheriff and His Posse to weed out the villains........and Uphold The Law.

Anna Eden ● 1054d

Yeah, like in Rock Ridge.

Keith Iddon ● 1054d

Where's Bart and Jim when you need them?That said, Governor Lepetomane, would probably do a better job than most local councillors.

N V Brooks ● 1054d