Crystal Meth is quickly becoming Ireland's newest problem drug. The drug's use, considered the most addictive and most dangerous, is soaring throughout the country as both gardai and health counsellors attempt to squash its growth.

The Irish Sunday Mirror reports on the terrifying new statistics regarding Crystal Meth in Ireland. Experienced drug worker Father Peter McVerry said to the Irish newspaper that "Crystal meth has destroyed whole communities in America, and it about to do the same here."

Fr McVerry went on to refer to crystal meth as the "drug of choice" in Ireland now, pointing to the fact that it's relatively cheap and easy to get. Reportedly increasing sexual arousal, the drug is becoming popular in the club scene.

"Every drug that comes along seems to be worse than the last one. Crack cocaine was taking a hold but now its crystal meth and that to me is 10 times worse than crack," said Fr McVerry.

Crystal meth comes in the form of white ice crystals and can be smoked like crack through a pipe. It's a powerful form of speed that produces a rush that can last up to 12 hours, but includes a debilitating crash afterwards. The resulting crash drives users to take more of the drug to feel better.

Driving its popularity is its price. For around $25, an user can buy a rock of meth, about half the price of crack.

Gardai are growing very alarmed by the increase in Crystal Meth present in Ireland. In what is reported to be the largest single seizure of the drug, 2.5kg of Crystal Meth was seized at Dublin Airport this past September with an estimated street value of �''250,000. The haul was taken from a 39 year old man arriving from Lesotho, Africa.

Seizures in Offaly as early as 2006, and Tralee in Co Kerry in 2009 show that the drug use has expanded from urban areas and has begun to invade rural communities.

Detective Sergeant Brian Roberts from the Garda National Drugs Unit said that while there is an apparent increase in crystal meth use, it has yet to reach "epidemic proportions."

"Unlike heroin, addiction to this drug is difficult to treat as there is no obvious substitute, so it can be difficult to know the exact numbers of those actually using it," said Det Sergeant Roberts.

"It is now sold hand-in-hand with heroin. A lot of heroin users will now buy a rock of crack or some crystal meth for a hit and then use their heroin for the comedown," he added.

Det Sergeant Roberts believes much of the crystal meth in Ireland has originated in Eastern European countries and that production of the highly addictive drug in Ireland is not occurring on a large scale.

"But there are labs in Eastern Europe where crystal meth is produced quite regularly. The Eastern Europeans have become particularly expert at producing meth."