Anecdotal reports suggest the deadly narcotic has made an appearance in the village and that some areas are rife with drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.

Concerns were raised this week by East Antrim Sinn Fein representative Oliver McMullan about a disused building in the centre of Carnlough. Another area where anti-social behaviour is reportedly a problem is Hurry Head, in and around the harbour.

One Carnlough source told the Times: "I have heard about heroin. Mostly it's ecstasy and cannabis."

A handful of young people in the village have been hospitalised within the last 12 months, according to the source, who added: "There's a massive problem. It's infuriating. I know that young people have been hospitalised through drug taking because of overdoses. It's shocking, it's really bad."

However, the PSNI in Larne said there is no evidence of heroin use within Carnlough and the incidence of drug abuse in the village is relatively uncommon.

Larne DCU commander, Chief Inspector Ryan Henderson, said: "This would be substantiated by the fact that there have been no reported findings of discarded needles or other drug paraphernalia associated with heroin abuse within the village."

Councillor McMullan this week raised concerns that Smith's Dining Rooms - derelict for many years - are being used as a hang-out for anti-social behaviour.

Cllr McMullan called on the council's environmental health department to investigate. "We see young people in a state in the area - these people are easy pickings for these pariahs (drug dealers). I would appeal to people to come forward to the PSNI or Sinn Fein or another political representative because we have got to deal with this scourge."

Cllr McMullan said that he has heard of a 'dial-a-drug' service along the coast, whereby users can telephone dealers and have drugs delivered straight to their door. "We want to see more visible resources and surveillance and the public needs to see more arrests to build up confidence," he told the Times.

Problems with drugs are not confined to Carnlough, he added, as there are concerns too in other villages along the Coast.

In April an East Antrim Sinn Fein delegation met the PSNI and handed over the names of suspected drug dealers in the area. Sinn Fein, Mr McMullan said, expect to hold another meeting with the PSNI soon.