Vol. 481 No. 3
25 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, taken to comply with the recommendations of the ministerial task force on measures to reduce the demand for drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15911/97]
My Department has made significant progress in implementing the recommendations of the ministerial task force reports on measures to reduce the demand for drugs.
All health boards, especially the Eastern Health Board which has the most serious drugs problem, are in the process of enhancing their preventive and treatment services for drug misuse, in accordance with the ministerial task force recommendations. Some of the measures being implemented by the Eastern Health Board include: recruitment of a further six education officers; development of substance abuse education; a community drug awareness programme; a freefone helpline; emergency services and assessment; increased detoxifications; young person's programme; extension of mobile clinic service; new satellite clinics; expansion of the aftercare and rehabilitation services; improved services for pregnant drug misusers; further development of voluntary organisations.
Each of the regional health boards has also received funding and some of the measures implemented include: improving drug information databases to establish the extent of addiction; further expansion of drug prevention and education services; projects geared towards meeting the needs of young drug misusers; grants to voluntary organisations for expansion of their services.
I am confident that these improved services will more adequately serve to, firstly, prevent young people turning to drugs in the first instance and, secondly, provide adequate services to those who need them.
