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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Drug Abuse.

Sdaly, ecstasy has become the recreational drug of choice of many young people and is now being traded openly in Dublin city and other areas at between £8 and £15 per tablet. It is predicted that its price will fall to around £3 per tablet by the end of the year. It may be significant that one of its street nicknames is "smarties", a small, brightly coloured sweet. Ecstasy is being marketed by the drug dealers as a "safe" recreational drug with few, if any, side effects, as a sort of "prozac" for dancers.

However, the reality is very different, brought home sadly again yesterday when a 19 year old youth collapsed and died after taking ecstasy at a rave disco in the Point Depot. We all know he was not the first victim of ecstasy. It has been estimated that up to 14 people may have died after taking the drug, which would not include the unknown number who have suffered severe side effects which can affect the heart and other internal organs leading to severe dehydration and over-heating of the body.

I understand that many people who take ecstasy would not dream of taking so-called hard drugs such as heroin, fearing that the health consequences of taking such hard drugs would be too great. However, they appear to believe that ecstasy is a safe drug over which they have personal control.

Obviously the requisite message is not getting across, which is that there is no such thing as a "safe fix". While its control comprises one part of the solution — dealt with extensively last evening — there are limits to what can be done to control a drug as easily concealed as is ecstasy. Nonetheless there should be increased vigilance on the part of the Garda and dance promoters at any event where ecstasy is known to be sold.

Another component of the solution is to tackle its supply at source at international level. We are all aware that Ireland does not produce the drug ecstasy, that it is imported largely from the former Eastern European countries. I am informed that its manufacture is easy, that border controls are few and it is predicted we shall have a glut of it on the market very soon, if that is not already the case. The sad reality is that it may cost a mere £1 for a pill in the very near future.

There is obvious need for concerted action at European Union level to prevent the drug ecstasy entering the European Union initially, together with support mechanisms to help the authorities in countries such as Czechoslovakia and Hungary where I understand the drug is being manufactured.

In addition to the outside forces we must also educate our young people about the dangers of ecstasy but it is my understanding that nothing significant is being done at present in this respect. We have to take the message to the classrooms and the venues where ecstasy and similar substances are consumed or abused. We must ensure that young people who may be tempted to buy some type of drug are fully informed of the health consequences. We must ensure also that clear, no holes barred leaflets are distributed in public houses or venues where concerts or dances are held. I recognise that regardless of all the warnings that may be given, ecstasy will still be taken by some vulnerable young people.

One of the effects of taking ecstasy is severe dehydration and to compensate for that, abusers must drink copious amounts of water. I understand the proprietors of some venues in the city and elsewhere at which ecstasy is taken are charging for water in the full knowledge that the drug is being consumed on their premises. We must examine the possibility for introducing measures that will make organisers and proprietors responsible for the substances consumed on their premises to ensure they do not become the silent accomplices of the drug dealers.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I listened with interest to the points he has made. Recent tragic cases have given rise to concern about the use of legal and illegal substances by young people and I welcome this opportunity to outline the action taken by my Department to promote awareness of the dangers of using ecstasy and other harmful drugs.

For many years, the Health Promotion Unit of my Department has been actively working to increase awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and provides a series of booklets and leaflets for health professionals and the general public, some of which specifically refer to ecstasy. In addition, the unit has also developed a range of educational and health promotion materials especially targeted at young people.

The provision of accurate information about the effects of drug taking is an essential component of any drug education programme. However, effective and extensive education about drugs also involves examining attitudes, promoting decision-making skills and building self-esteem. A crucial part of the process is using appropriate settings where young people will be receptive to health messages and where the necessary life skills can be encouraged.

Young people are subject to many influences and the school provides an ideal setting for primary drug prevention strategies. An important element of the fight against drug abuse is the substance abuse prevention programme which is now available to all second level schools. This programme was developed by the Health Promotion Unit and the psychological service of the Department of Education with assistance from the Mater Dei counselling service. It is a comprehensive drug education programme, the aim of which is to enable students to take charge of their mental health and develop their ability to make informed decisions about the use of drugs in their lives. Programme materials include information on ecstasy and its effects.

The Health Promotion Unit also runs a community based training programme with the health boards which examines the extent of the drug problem at local level and seeks to provide local answers. It involves a multi-sectoral approach for health and education professionals and others interested in drug related problems which they meet in their own work. I understand the response of those who have participated in the training has been extremely positive.

A further programme is the pilot project on parent education on alcohol, drugs and family communication which was developed by the Health Promotion Unit in conjunction with the Cork Social and Health Education Project of the Southern Health Board. This project recognises that young people and their parents must be provided with assistance to help them deal with the problems posed by licit and illicit drugs. A course has been developed which focuses not only on the drugs themselves but also on the skills and personal attributes that help people to deal with drugs.

The Deputy will be interested to learn that the Health Promotion Unit has also worked with the National Youth Council of Ireland to develop solvent abuse materials for use by youth leaders, instructors of community training workshops and Youthreach projects as well as the formal education sector. The contents of the package are also flexible enough for use in special schools, residential centres and as an aid to the juvenile liaison scheme of the Garda Síochána.

On an international level, the second European Drug Prevention Week took place last October. The week initiated a major drug misuse prevention drive throughout Europe and its purpose was to educate the public and young people in particular regarding the dangers of drug misuse and to highlight drug prevention strategies already in place.

I hope this clarifies the situation which I will keep under review.

The Dáil adjourned at 11 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 29 June 1995.

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