Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 7

Written Answers. - Alcohol Abuse.

John Connor

Question:

48 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the level of funding he intends to direct towards education and publicity on the dangers of alcohol abuse in 1993; and if, in view of the clear evidence of high levels of alcohol abuse in this country, particularly among young people and teenagers' he agrees to the need for greater funding for this area of health education.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

Alcohol abuse is, in many cases, dealt with in the context of more comprehensive substance abuse programmes and, accordingly, it would be very difficult to specify the level of funding directed at tackling the problem. However, the various programmes which are being funded by my Department's Health Promotion Unit and which I detail hereunder will cost more than £200,000 in 1993.

I agree with the Deputy that a concerted effort by all of those involved in alcohol abuse prevention is needed in order to tackle the present problems caused by the abuse of the legal drug alcohol in our society.

My Department's Health Promotion Unit is actively involved in a multifaceted strategy but measures necessary to address the complexity of the problem fall within the remit of a number of Government Departments, statutory and voluntary agencies.

National Alcohol Policy

In pursuance of a broadly based policy on alcohol, its use and abuse, we are in the process of developing a policy which will address the various economic, social, educational, cultural and health factors which impinge on alcohol use, with a particular emphasis on under-age drinking. The Advisory Council on Health Promotion has completed a major consultative exercise involving national and regional organisations, including youth organisations, and it also considered submissions from the general public on the issue.

Recommendations from the Advisory Council will dictate the focus of preventive and educational strategies in 1993.

In the meantime the Health Promotion Unit is engaged in a number of alcohol education initiatives in schools, the non formal education sector and in the community. I believe that if we can foster the development of social and decision making skills, backed with sound information on the topic of alcohol young people will be helped to make healthy lifestyle choices regarding the use of alcohol.

School Based Programmes

At primary level alcohol education is incorporated into the various health education programmes which have been developed by health boards. At second level a Substance Abuse Prevention Programme including materials on alcohol, jointly developed by the Departments of Health and Education, with the assistance of Mater Dei Counselling Centre, will conclude its pilot phase this year. Following evaluation it will become widely available to schools in the next academic school year 1993-1994.

The Health Promotion Unit's Health is Lookin' Good, a competition running in all primary and second level schools has substance abuse, including alcohol, as one of its themes. Young people, through this competition, will have a say in the development of a message to their peers on alcohol and other drugs.

Drink Awareness for Youth

Drink Awareness for Youth developed in 1990 and jointly funded by my Department and the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland continues to be a successful programme in alerting young people to the dangers of alcohol abuse and in training them to make responsible decisions regarding its use. The programme is being used by youth leaders, teachers, gardaí and others who work with young people as a way of exploring attitudes to and awareness of problems relating to alcohol and its abuse.

Parent Education

A Parent Education Programme is being developed by my Department's Health Promotion Unit with the Cork Social and Health Education Project in the Southern Health Board. This programme helps parents cope with the problems of communication and conflict which emerge in dealing with the abuse of alcohol and other drugs by young people.

Drugs Questions — Local Answers (DQLA)

This broadly based community programme uses an inter-disciplinary approach in developing a community response to local alcohol and drug problems. It brings together health and education professionals, social workers, gardaí, civic representatives, youth workers and voluntary groups who under the guidance of expert facilitators examine what steps can be taken to tackle local problems. This course continues to be a successful step towards addressing alcohol related problems at local level.

I have also asked the Health Promotion Unit to launch a specific alcohol education media campaign during 1993. This will be complemented by the activities of a number of other statutory and voluntary agencies who are all concerned with the high level of alcohol abuse among the community and among young people in particular.