That's according to Treasurer of Athlone drug awareness group, Jim Henson.
Drug users are more often victims than criminals.
That's according to Treasurer of Athlone drug awareness group, Jim Henson, as just over a third of people believe there should be tougher sentences for those who use drugs.
However that's down from 51% when similar research was carried out by Merchant's Quay Ireland 25 years ago.
Four in five people say the drug problem here is out of control - while 30% think those who are dependent on drugs only have themselves to blame.
Mr Henson says people's responses to the matter are ignorant:
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