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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Oct 1974

Vol. 275 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.

1.

asked the Minister for Health if he will consider sending qualified personnel to speak on the dangers of drugs to all secondary schools throughout the country.

During the past few years seminars and lectures, organised by my Department, were given by qualified personnel to teachers, parents, youth leaders, doctors, nurses and Army and Garda personnel. The intention was to help towards a better understanding of the problems of young people, to correct many misconceptions regarding drug abuse, to provide practical information and to help to create a balanced approach to the problem. The seminars for teachers were held at various centres throughout the country and each second-level school authority was given the opportunity to send teachers to them. Participants in these seminars and lectures have informed my Department how much they appreciated the benefits of these discussions on the problem.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the Committee on Drug Education furnished their report to me recently. Copies of it are available in the Library of the House. This committee is strongly of the opinion that information on drugs should not be given in isolation to young people, a view which is confirmed by experience in other countries. The committee also considered that a comprehensive health education programme is the best way of tackling not alone the drug problem but other health-related problems of adolescents. The main recommendation of the committee was that a health education authority be set up to supply the need of health education and to co-ordinate all existing efforts. The Government have accepted this recommendation and I hope to set up a health education bureau in the very near future.

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