Peter Barry
Ceist:96 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a special task force to visit all the schools in every health board area to bring home to young people the danger of alcohol and drugs.
Written Answers. - Alcohol/Drugs Education.
Most health boards have initiated activities and actions in schools in their areas designed to educate young people about the danger of alcohol and drugs, often in the context of a wider health education programme. It is indeed in the context of this broad health education programme that a topic such as drug and alcohol misuse can be addressed with the greatest possibility of being effective. A comprehensive programme that ensures that the topic can be revisited during the students school career affords the best possibility of success. It is acknowledged that outside experts could have a role to play in complementing such a programme, but to use such outside experts as the only solution would represent one-off ad hoc coverage of the topic and thus would not be as effective.
I am keenly aware of the need to bring home to young people the danger of the abuse of alochol and drugs. In an effort to combat this problem at national level my Department's Health Promotion Unit, in co-operation with the Department of Education, embarked on a pilot Substance Abuse Prevention Programme in selected second level schools in September 1991. The programme is conducted with the assistance of Mater Dei Counselling Centre and the European Commission. Programme elements include Assertiveness, Self Esteem, Influences on Young People, Feelings and Decision Making Skills. When piloting and evaluation are completed towards the end of next year the programme will be made available nationally if results are satisfactory.
The Health Promotion Unit has also initiated, in co-operation with the National Youth Council of Ireland, a comprehensive Drink Awareness for Youth Programme. This programme has been made available, with training, to Youth Leaders throughout the country. In addition to youth leaders, gardaí, FÁS instructors, teachers and the Irish Countrywomens Association have expressed an interest in this pack and received training in its application. To date over 1,000 people have been trained to use the Drink Awareness for Youth Pack.
The unit also launched an alcohol education video entitled "Handle with Care", in conjunction with the Catholic Communications Institute and Veritas Video Productions. The video is aimed at 10-15 year olds and includes a comprehensive teachers' guide for use in schools. This is a very useful way of getting the message across to young people before they actually drink alcohol. Both the DAY pack and the video have been made available to all health boards.
Because of the vital role which parents can play in preventing substance misuse the Health Promotion Unit, in conjunction with the Southern Health Board, initiated a pilot parenting programme, which addresses how parents can assist in drug prevention strategies. Both parents and the wider community have a major role to play in the prevention of substance misuse. This programme will be made available nationally if results from the pilot programme prove to be satisfactory.
The unit has in recent years supported summer schools which have been organised by the Department of Education to give teachers opportunities to take in-service courses in the drugs and alcohol area. These courses have been highly successful and each year they have been fully subscribed.
The Health Promotion Unit of my Department has also made available materials on the subjects of alcohol and drugs for young people, youth leaders and parents to help in efforts to educate respective target groups about problems in these areas.
I think the Deputy will appreciate both the significance and the effectiveness of the substance misuse initiatives in which both the health boards and the Health Promotion Unit are involved. The Deputy can rest assured that every effort will be taken to ensure that young people are aware of the dangers of alcohol and drugs misuse and are equipped with the skills to deal with same.