asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a policy of preventive education at all levels of society, which is the most important strategy in tackling drug abuse.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
3.
The Special Governmental Task Force on Drug Abuse recognised the importance of initiating a policy of preventive education at all levels of society as an important strategy in tackling drug abuse.
In pursuance of the task force's recommendations in this area, the Health Education Bureau and the Department of Education have co-operated closely in the production of materials for use in schools and in the organisation of appropriate workshops and seminars for teachers. Also, the bureau have been continuing their training programme for teachers in health education, including drug education, and about 1,600 teachers have been through this programme to date. Both organisations are currently involved in producing additional materials for schools.
In the context of youth clubs and related activities, the Health Education Bureau have also produced a resource pack on substance abuse in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland. The pack has already been distributed, mostly through training courses for youth leaders. This drug education training programme is available to all youth groups through the National Youth Council.
As well as co-operating with the Department of Education in teacher training and materials and programme development, the bureau have also designed programmes aimed specifically at heightening public awareness of the real and immediate dangers of drug abuse. The bureau have been involved with health boards and other agencies in training doctors, pharmacists and teachers as drug educators.
I should also mention that the Council of Europe's European Health Committee is sponsoring a pilot project in the Dún Laoghaire area which involves detailed education at a number of different levels — at school level, at the level of parents and within the community. This project is being co-ordinated by a psychologist from the Department of Education.
Additionally, my Department have continued to fund the Diploma Course in Addiction Studies in Trinity College which started in 1983. This course provides specialised training for workers in direct contact with drug abusers and their families. Such workers include social workers, nurses, gardaí and teachers.
I think the Deputy will agree that all of these activities, which are being closely co-ordinated by the Health Education Bureau and the Department of Education, constitute an effective and comprehensive policy of preventive education at all levels of society.
Is the Minister satisfied with the success of the preventive education programme to date relating to drug abuse? If he is not, will he step up that programme somewhat, at least affording it the same order of priority as is now proposed to highlight the AIDS problem?
The fact that there are now 1,600 teachers having undergone the course, that many hundreds of youth groups have participated in the preventive education course and the fact that young gardaí coming out have basic skills in detection and an awareness of the position, all of that, together with the work we are doing in the hospitals in ensuring that drugs are kept under much more careful custody and security, has helped greatly. I think the diploma course has produced approximately 40 persons who have participated in a full course and they are making a considerable impact on the community. However, I agree with the Deputy that a lot more has to be done.
Is the Minister not concerned at the high level of crime and particularly the high level of infectious disease, including in Mountjoy the problem of infectious disease arising from the abuse of drugs? What further steps is he prepared to take to ensure that the campaign against drug abuse is effective?
Certainly, there is a serious problem of hepatitis among drug abusers and as the Deputy has said, there are a number, in Mountjoy. I am extremely anxious to have such prisoners — and indeed women prisoners who have infection as well — separated, treated on a separate basis and rehabilitated during the period of their custody for their return to society. In that regard I have endeavoured to do a considerable amount of work, including the prospect of using the premises in Dundrum, but, as the Deputy knows, there is very perverse opposition around in relation to much of the work we are trying to do. Slowly but surely we are overcoming that and bringing in a better mode of treatment.