Vol. 337 No. 11
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that alcoholism and drug abuse are fast becoming national health problems, it is his intention to embark on a special programme of education to alert our youth to these hazards; and if he will outline his plans in this regard.
280.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the ever increasing incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse among our youth, he will indicate and outline his plan to alert people to these twin hazards.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.
I am very conscious of the increasing incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among young people and I am taking immediate steps to alert and educate parents and young people to the dangers inherent for them in the whole area of substance abuse. I recently allocated an additional £¼ million to the Health Education Bureau to undertake an urgent national programme on substance abuse.
The bureau's programme will involve the training of teachers, doctors, pharmacists, career guidance counsellors, health board personnel, gardaí and clergy as drug educators. These will be available to act extensively throughout the community and particularly in schools. This aspect of the programme is aimed primarily at parents to inform them as to the nature and extent of the problem, equip them to guide their children away from becoming involved with drugs and train them to react appropriately, organising treatment and support if their child has a drug problem.
Young people themselves must also be alerted, advised and educated outside the home as to the dangers of drug abuse. The school is the obvious place through which to impart information. To this end, the Health Education Bureau, with the full support and co-operation of the Department of Education, is arranging for the preparation of educational materials on all forms of substance abuse for second level school children. This is being piloted in selected schools at present and will be extended to all schools from September 1982.
Education in relation to abuse of alcohol will of course be a component of this comprehensive programme for schools. In addition, however, there is also a special alcohol education programme for second level schools in the process of being designed at present by the bureau. The aim of the programme is to develop a responsible attitude in young people to the use of alcohol. It is expected to be in operation early next year.
