Tony Gregory
Question:140 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, being taken to respond to the drugs crisis as outlined in the recent European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction report. [9600/00]
Written Answers. - Drugs Crisis.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction's 1999 report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe was published last November. The main points of the report were that cannabis is still the most commonly used illicit drug across the EU. The next greatest problem is caused by amphetamines, Ecstasy and other synthetic drugs. The misuse of heroin occurs mainly in large cities across Europe, but this drug is responsible for disproportionate health, justice and social costs due to the anti-social behaviour, crime and mortality associated with its use.
As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive range of structures has been put in place in Ireland to address the drugs problem. Fourteen local drugs task forces have been established in the areas where the drugs problem is most acute and over 200 projects are under way in local task force areas. In addition, through the youth services development fund a range of initiatives are under way aimed at children and families at risk.
The Cabinet Sub-committee on social inclusion and drugs works to co-ordinate activities on an inter-departmental basis to address the problem. The national drugs strategy will be further reviewed this year with the aim of ensuring that properly co-ordinated and integrated structures and services are being put in place.
In the Eastern Regional Health Authority area services are provided through 53 treatment locations. Ten education officers have been recruited to work with schools and local communities on the development and delivery of drug prevention programmes. Three rehabilitation co-ordinators are creating links between drugs treatment services and the range of agencies who provide rehabilitation options for drug misusers. The authority will also continue to provide support to the voluntary and community groups whose work complements that of the statutory services.
In areas outside the task force areas the major problems relate to cannabis and ecstasy use. The main strategy in these areas is education and prevention. Drugs co-ordinators are employed in all health boards and boards are also taking steps to strengthen co-ordinating structures to ensure that there is an integrated approach to addressing the drugs problem. Boards are also in a position to provide an appropriate response should any problem of heroin misuse arise.
I accept that we must continue to have drug misuse as a priority area for attention and that further work is needed to prevent young people turning to drugs in the first instance while working to ensure that appropriate treatment and rehabilitation facilities are provided for those who need them. My Department will continue to work in a co-ordinated fashion to tackle the problem and to halt the upward trend in drug misuse.