The number of Garda detections for possession of drugs for sale or supply in Dublin city more than trebled in the first eight months of this year, compared to a similar period last year.
Dublin city centre business groups are coming together to lobby Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald for more gardaí on the streets.
A report by RTÉ’s Prime Time shows images of widespread drug taking and anti-social behaviour in Dublin.
Hidden cameras recorded footage of people taking drugs and engaging in aggressive begging which Dublin businesses say has brought the city to a 'tipping point'.
Figures obtained by Prime Time show the possession of drugs for personal use in Dublin City increased from 273 from January to August 2013 to 561 for the same period this year.
Noel Caffrey from CIE Tours said the drug issue in the city centre must be "very scary for tourists" adding "it is not something the general public or tourists should have to encounter."
Businessman Oliver Hughes said: "We see (drug use) on a daily basis and tourists see it on a daily basis.
"We also have a business in both London and New York, you don’t see that..."
The Department of Justice told Prime Time that gardaí have a number of targeted operations in Dublin actively combating anti-social behaviour and drugs activity.
It added the distribution of gardaí is is under continuing review including where new recruits may be assigned.
