asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a TV advertising campaign on the dangers of heroin abuse; and if he will seek the support of leading showbusiness and sporting personalities for the campaign.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
5.
The Health Education Bureau are currently running a television campaign on the misuse of drugs with the theme "The Drug-atmosphere Home" and this is scheduled to run up to the end of 1986. This campaign is consistent with the bureau's view that illicit drugs, including heroin, should be dealt with in the context of substance abuse generally and in the context of a drug-using society.
The bureau's television campaign is but one aspect of a comprehensive programme for young people on drug education which is currently being promoted in schools and among out-of-school youth through national youth organisations. In this, I refer to teacher training projects, the development of school materials and the distribution of a wide range of literature.
The bureau also co-ordinate their activities with health boards and national statutory and voluntary organisations involved in drug education.
I share the Health Education Bureau's view that drug education is best conducted in the context of health education where many issues of social and personal developments concerning young people are dealt with.
I do not believe, therefore, that a TV advertising campaign on the dangers of heroin abuse would be appropriate at the moment.
Will the Minister agree that the vast majority of young people who have become heroin addicts live in disadvantaged urban environments where the type of material the Health Education Bureau have so far produced is of little relevance and where indeed education, in the normally accepted sense of the word, has little or no influence on their lives? In view of that would the Minister not consider, seeing that heroin is one of the most serious social problems today — there are something in the region of 3,000 addicts in Dublin — a programme or a campaign such as the one I have mentioned that would have an influence on the people most at risk? Does the Minister not consider that it is wasteful to direct educational programmes towards people who are not at risk from heroin and at the same time fail to provide the type of campaign that would be geared to those at risk from heroin? I am sure the Minister is aware of a similar type campaign which was initiated by media personalities in Britain and which has been very successful. For those reasons will the Minister reconsider his refusal to consider this type of campaign.
The use of a major television campaign such as that being currently conducted in the UK is questionable in terms of combating heroin abuse. The stressing of the dangers of heroin in a television framework may often throw down a unique challenge to young people to experiment. There has been severe criticism of the current UK campaign. Frequently such campaigns lead to a degree of self-fulfilling prophecy in encouraging people to experiment. Working on the streets, we have examined the problem with the Health Education Bureau. Persons who experiment do not look at conventional television but watch videos in a different setting. Using that type of material young persons can frequently be given a more sophisticated appreciation and an adequate understanding of the experiences relating to heroin. I have some doubts, and these have been confirmed by our experts, that the highly self dramatised account by wealthy popstar showbiz personalities in relation to heroin, does not particularly have any impact on young people and in fact almost at times romanticises heroin. That is a culture we are not anxious to develop.
Question No. 6.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Questions will have to be short. I will not allow long speeches.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am allowing Deputy O'Hanlon a very short question.
Will the Minister use his influence to ensure that television is not used to glamorise drug abuse in respect of drugs such as heroin or cannabis?
Yes. I am glad the Deputy raised that point as I must confess, with due respect to "The Late Late Show" last Friday evening, there was an unfortunate over emphasis on the alleged acceptability of cannabis. The programme on Saturday evening redressed the balance to some extent and I was glad to see that certain excerpts from that were quite rightly taken out by Channel 4 when it was re-broadcast. I assure the Deputy that cannabis is a highly addictive and danagerous drug. I am sure it remained in the bloodstream of the lady in question for far longer than would alcohol.
If Deputy Gregory has a short question I will allow it and then I am moving on.
Will the Minister pay tribute to "The Late Late Show" and to the "Today Tonight" programme——
We are not having a re-run of "The Late Late Show" here.
——for highlighting a problem which the Minister's Department ignored for some considerable time? Can the Minister specifically refer me to any element in the Health Education Bureau educational programme geared to the young people most at risk from heroin in this city? I refer to young people from disadvantaged areas where education has no relevance but where television has a major influence and impact——
The Deputy is making a speech and is not co-operating with the Chair.
I asked two questions and I will let it rest now.
Without denigrating RTE, the number of people who look at RTE 1 and 2 is a small fraction if my experience of surveys——
Has the Minister carried out a survey?
The information as a result of surveys is available to RTE, the HEB and the public. It is what happens on the street that matters most.
Are the Health Education Bureau on the street?
The Health Education Bureau have been directly involved with hundreds of teachers and youth leaders in preparing material to impart to young people. The Deputy should on some occasions accept that substantial work is being done in this area instead of making a profession of his own protestations.
Deputy Briscoe rose.
I cannot allow another question. Will the Minister please answer Question No. 6.
That is very unfair.
The Deputy should not say that.
I do not give you any trouble.
I have the backing of the vast majority of the Deputies to make more progress with Question Time. I have been requested by the Whips of the three major parties to do so and I will.
I am aware of that.
The Deputy must resume his seat. Will the Minister please answer the next question?
You are very unfair.