Tony Gregory
Ceist:74 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a drugs awareness campaign by way of television advertisements in order to highlight the dangers of drug abuse. [12713/95]
Written Answers. - Drugs Awareness Campaign.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:91 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will consider launching an imaginative media advertising campaign aimed at young people warning of the risks involved in drug taking, similar to the previous safe sex campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12934/95]
Seamus Brennan
Ceist:100 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to launch an advertising campaign against the misuse of drugs along the same lines as the drink driving and swimming campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13083/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 91 and 100 together.
I am very aware of the need to highlight the dangers of drug abuse. The Health Promotion Unit of my Department is involved in the development and dissemination of a wide range of substance abuse prevention programmes targeted at selected groups. These include:
Drug Questions Local Answers — a community-based training programme which examines drug problems at local level and seeks to provide local answers.
Parent Education on Alcohol, Drugs and Family Communication — a programme developed by the Health Promotion Unit with the Cork Social and Health Education Project of the Southern Health Board, which aims to enhance the skills and personal attributes of parents and their children with a view to the long term prevention of drug and alcohol misuse.
Solvent Abuse — a programme developed in association with the National Youth Council of Ireland, which aims to assist young people in personal skills development thereby enabling them to be informed and decisive in relation to solvent abuse offers. It is suitable for use by the informal education sector such as youth and community leaders and also in the formal education sector, special schools and by the juvenile liaison scheme of the Gardaí Síochana.
On My Own Two Feet— a programme developed in conjunction with the psychological service of the Department of Education with assistance from the Mater Dei Counselling Centre. It is a comprehensive drug education programme, with the overall aim of enabling students to develop their ability to make informed decisions about the use of drugs in their lives.
The Health Promotion Unit also develops and distributes a wide range of materials for both the professional and the general public, including leaflets, videos, and posters. The literature and posters are available free of charge from the unit's public office, and the videos are available on a two week loan basis.
The drug awareness campaign of my Department is not just about highlighting the dangers of drug abuse, but also about giving people the opportunity to develop and practise the skills necessary to resist pressures to use various substances of abuse. My Department's Health Promotion Unit is considering what further appropriate initiatives can be taken to heighten drugs awareness, particularly among groups most at risk. I have asked the officers concerned to give this matter a very high priority in the programme of work for next year.