Joanne O'Dwyer works at the Red Door Project in Drogheda. It's one of the few drug addiction services in the town.
"We’re definitely seeing younger people coming to the service. They’ve started drug use early in life and are presenting the minute they hit 18," she said.
Over the last few years, demand for its services have grown.
"We’ve seen a lot more cocaine use in the town and it’s readily available in Drogheda, like it is everywhere else," said Ms O’Dwyer.
"It’s not just the socially deprived. We’re seeing middle class people who have good jobs and good careers who are struggling," she added.
A Government-commissioned report, published in March, recommended additional funding for the Red Door Project and suggested using the facility as a "one stop shop" for drug treatment and related services.
Louise Mahony is General Manager of the Red Door Project. She said the extra funding hasn’t arrived. However, she is trying to remain upbeat about the future.
"The scoping exercise will hopefully bring something different to the table. Drogheda is the biggest town in Ireland and we just need the same supports and respect as every other town," she said.
However, with or without a feud, Drogheda has suffered from a lack of investment over the years, she told RTÉ.
"I still feel the people of Drogheda have been forgotten. Nothing has changed. There’s still the fall-out from the court cases, there’s still fear and the trauma about what happened."
Ms Mahony said the gardaí have done great work but other pieces of the jigsaw now have to be put in place.
"We have to step up, not just in Drogheda. There just isn’t the money put into addiction services right across the country. The Geiran report is a really positive thing and we’re looking forward to seeing how that pans out," she said.
At the Holy Family Boxing Club in Ballsgrove, 70 young men and women train every week. The club was built by volunteers and relies on their goodwill to keep the club going.
Damien McKenna is the head coach. "This facility, which is one of the best in the country, has helped turn around the lives of many young men," he said.
"We’ve also had young people who went down the wrong path but we’re not going to close the doors on these young people. They have the opportunity to turn back and use the facilities we have here."
James Gorman is the Chairman of the club and one of the founding members. He said investment has always been an issue.
"I’m over 50 years in this area and nothing has been built for young people. There’s not many places for them to go. There’s here, there’s St Nicholas’ GAA Club and there’s Drogheda boys and girls soccer club," he said.
"We’ve put about 3,500 lads through this place and some of them went by the wayside but very few and it’s down to the hard work of the coaches," he added.
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However, Mr Gorman is waiting to see action being taken on promises made.
"The Geiran report, what’s going to be done about it? When will it be published? When will it be implemented? Someone has to wake up and say, we have to pump money into the youth to keep them safe and give them something to keep them off the street," he said.
Local Independent Councillor Paddy McQuillan said the key to the future of Drogheda is the implementation of this report.
"The report came out in March. It’s now July and still nothing has happened. We’re a bit concerned. We need the action plan so we can implement these recommendations," he said.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Justice said an implementation action plan is now being finalised and should go to Cabinet by the middle of the month.
"The Minister intends to outline how the implementation of the plan will be actively driven at a local level in Drogheda, with national oversight and support provided by the Department of Justice," the spokesperson said.
"This is a priority for Minister Humphreys and the Department of Justice. She is aware that work is already underway in Drogheda to enact some of the recommendations in the scoping exercise," he added.
Labour's Ged Nash has said those working in the support services on the ground have the enthusiasm to implement the report. "It must be met with political and financial support," he urged.
Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd said significant progress was being made to secure additional teachers for schools in a number of schools in Drogheda, as recommended in the Geiran report.
He praised the work of the Red Door Project and all those working on the ground. Deputy O'Dowd acknowledged the action plan is overdue but said he is hopeful it will be brought forward soon.
