Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.

John Bruton

Question:

122 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action he intends to take in tackling the increased use of cocaine in society; the research which has been done in this area; his views on the reports of increasing use of this drug by young people combined with alcohol; and the action he intends to take as a result. [14488/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Mr. N. Ahern)

My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the national drugs strategy 2001-08. The strategy aims to tackle the drug problem in the most comprehensive way ever undertaken in this country and contains 100 individual actions – under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research – to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.

My Department also has responsibility for the work of the local drugs task forces, which were established in 1997, in the areas experiencing the highest levels of drug misuse. Currently, there are 14 local drugs task forces – 12 in Dublin, one in Cork and one in Bray. In total, the Government has spent or allocated over €130 million to implement the proposals contained in the two rounds of plans of the task forces since 1997, the premises initiative for drugs projects and young peoples facilities and services fund.

As regards the research which has been done in the area of cocaine use in Ireland, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs has commissioned a national population survey, which is due to be completed this summer and which should give us a reliable picture of drug use nationwide, including cocaine. The committee also undertook its own review of the available information on the nature and extent of cocaine use in Ireland and this was presented to the interdepartmental group on drugs in April.

In this context, the best available information is based on the recent SLÁN, survey of lifestyles, attitudes and nutrition, survey carried out by the Department of Health and Children, which found that 2.4% of respondents in the 18 to 64 year age bracket reported using cocaine in the 12 months preceding the survey. More recent provisional figures from the Customs and Excise and the Garda also suggest that cocaine seizures in Ireland have increased substantially, particularly in 2002, and the Garda authorities have expressed concern at the apparent recent increase in cocaine use, especially in the Dublin City area.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority has also reported that its services are beginning to notice an increase in those presenting with problems related to cocaine use, though it should be noted that the numbers involved are still very low and, in total, they make up about 1% of those in treatment.

The increase of cocaine use in Ireland would appear to coincide with an increase in the availability and use of cocaine in Europe generally, as a result of increased production, particularly in Colombia, and a consequential drop in the street price. In addition, I am aware that there is a growing perception among some people that cocaine is a safe drug. I am very conscious of the fact that we need to counter this perception as the risks associated with the drug are very high, particularly when combined with alcohol.

In this regard, it is worth noting that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and I recently launched the first phase of a national awareness campaign. The campaign features television and radio advertising supported by an information brochure and website, all designed to promote greater awareness and communication about the drugs issue in Ireland, including cocaine. This first phase targets the general population while subsequent phases will focus on specific groups such as parents and young people.

With regard to treatment, as the Deputy is probably aware there is no substitution treatment drug for cocaine and I understand that existing services such as counselling and behavioural therapy are the best treatments available. It is worth noting that the three area health boards of the Eastern Region Health Authority have recruited additional counsellors and outreach workers in the last number of years and that the Northern Area Health Board has recently established a treatment clinic, dedicated to cocaine misuse, in the north inner city.

I am confident that any measures that may need to be taken to tackle cocaine use can be addressed in the context of the national drugs strategy 2001-08 and I can assure the Deputy that I will be keeping the matter under review.