Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1511. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide additional detail on the targeted funding alluded to in recent comments to the media by the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy to local drugs task forces in areas in which crack cocaine has become a serious issue; the increased supports and resources that will be made available; and the level of funding that will be involved. [33667/21]
View answerThe National Drugs Strategy, ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery’ emphasises a health-led response to drug use, providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery for people who misuse substances such as cocaine.
Recent data from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS), published this month, shows that the prevalence of polydrug use is a continuing trend, and remains a concern. The number of crack cocaine cases have increased year-on-year, from a relatively low number of 84 cases in 2014 to 414 in 2020, an increase of almost 400 per cent.
It is important to get the message out to the public about the risks associated with drugs like crack cocaine and highlight how these risks are hugely increased when combined with alcohol. The national cocaine harm reduction campaign, a collaboration between the HSE and the Ana Liffey Drugs Project, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of taking cocaine (both in powder form, and crack). It communicates the risks and dangers of cocaine use to dependent users and at-risk groups, as well as to those who engage in ‘recreational use’.
The national drugs helpline is available to people with concerns regarding their drug and alcohol use, or that of a family member. The helpline provides support, information, guidance, and referral to anyone with a concern related to drug and alcohol use. Additional resources are being provided in 2021 to extend the opening hours of the helpline, so that more people can received assistance.
I am committed to strengthening early harm reduction responses to current and emerging trends and patterns of drug use in Ireland, including cocaine and crack cocaine. I intend to strengthen measures to address these trends following the mid-term review of our National Drugs Strategy. This will include the allocation of the additional €1m funding for targeted drug and alcohol initiatives in conjunction with the drug and alcohol task forces. I expect to announce details of this funding shortly.
