Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Substance Abuse Levels.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

115 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of substance abuse in society; the age group where such substance abuse starts; the substances used; the level of funding for prevention, education and treatment programmes over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18352/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Drug misuse occurs all over Ireland. It takes two forms: heroin abuse, which is confined mainly to greater Dublin, and the misuse of other drugs including cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamines, tranquillisers, LSD, inhalants/solvents and magic mushrooms. Various estimates have been made of the number of opiate misusers in the country. Given the illicit nature of drug misuse, it is difficult to get a clear estimate of the extent of the problem. Estimates range from around 8,500 to 13,500. The ministerial task force suggested a figure of 8,000, confined mainly to Dublin city. The Health Research Board report on treated drug misuse in Ireland in 1998 gave a total of 6,043 treated cases in 1998 – 5,076 cases treated in the greater Dublin area and 67 in the rest of the country. It must be emphasised, however, that this is the number of people receiving treatment and the number of people misusing drugs would be greatly in excess of this figure.

The mean age of those in treatment for drug misuse in Ireland is 24 years, which is the lowest in the EU. Of those in treatment in 1998, 13.3% were under 15 years of age when they first used drugs, while 58.9% were between 15 and 19 years.

In order to implement a range of measures to reduce the demand for drugs, the Government allocated £10 million to support over 200 projects in local drugs task force areas in 1997. In August 1999, a further £15 million was allocated to enable task forces to update these plans and related activities.

In 1999, the Taoiseach allocated £34.8 million in 1999 to the young people's facilities and services fund to develop youth facilities and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. Of this sum, £25 million was allocated to 295 facility and services projects in the local drugs task force areas on the basis of the recommendations of an assessment committee in relation to plans submitted. The allocation included funding towards 86 capital projects such as youth centres, community centres and sports facilities which will provide much needed accommodation for programmes and services in these areas. In addition, the funding will provide for a wide variety of community based prevention programmes including early school leaving programmes, after-school activities, sports and recreational activities, family sup port programmes, art, drama, and music programmes, counselling and transport services.

Recognising that the problem of drug misuse is not confined to the task force areas in Dublin and Cork, funding was also allocated to areas outside these priority areas. Some £2.4 million has been provided each year for three years, 1998-2000, to set up family support projects aimed at children at risk and families at risk within particular communities and working with voluntary and community groups in a co-ordinated way. Projects have commenced in Cherry Orchard, Naas, Waterford, Mahon in Cork, Thurles, Southill, Athlone, Galway City, Letterkenny, Sligo, Navan and Dundalk.

Since 1996, a total additional sum of around £24 million has been allocated by my Department to drugs and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services in health boards. In the Eastern Regional Health Authority, where the majority of drug misusers reside, the total budget for drugs and AIDS services in 2000 is over £22 million. During 2000 all health boards are expanding and enhancing their drug misuse services. This includes the development of drugs information systems, enhancing education and prevention services and providing greater access to treatment and rehabilitation services.