Vol. 462 No. 2
99 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the way in which he proposes to target the inner city area of Dublin and other high risk areas for specific health promotion programmes in relation to drug awareness. [4494/96]
100 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to initiate national and locally based drug awareness campaigns to provide information to young people and their parents on the dangers of drug misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4495/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The Government decided on 20 February 1996 that there should be further development of education and prevention programmes by the Departments of Health and Education in conjunction with other relevant agencies, including a programme aimed specifically at deprived areas. Arrangements are already in train for the development of a drug misuse prevention mass media campaign which will alert and educate people on the dangers of all drug misuse.
I am very aware of the need to provide specific information for discrete audiences in relation to the dangers of drug misuse.
The health promotion unit of my Department has a number of campaigns in place, in particular a convenience advertising campaign which targets at risk youth by alerting them to the dangers of drug misuse.
The unit has also supported the development of parent education programmes. These include "Parent Education on Alcohol, Drugs and Family Communication" developed in conjunction with the Cork social and health education project of the Southern Health Board. This programme focuses not only on drugs but also on the development of skills and personal attributes which help parents and young people to deal with drug related issues. Similarly, a parenting programme entitled "Working Together" developed in co-operation with Community Awareness of Drugs — a voluntary organisation — aims to assist parents in exploring attitudes, beliefs and decisions about the issue of drug misuse.
In addition to these measures my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Education and other relevant agencies and groups, will design further appropriate education and health promotion materials for use in inner city areas.
