Vol. 557 No. 1
445 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the research, which has been carried out on drug misuse here; if there is ongoing research; and the plans there are for more research into the area of drug misuse. [21269/02]
The National Advisory Committee on Drugs, NACD, for which my Department has responsibility, was established in July 2000 to advise the Government on the prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland, based on the Committee's analysis and interpretation of research findings and information available to it. The NACD is overseeing the delivery of a three year prioritised programme of research and evaluation on the extent, nature, causes and effects of drug misuse in Ireland, a copy of which follows.
The membership of the NACD reflects statutory, community, voluntary, academic and research interests as well as representation from the relevant Government Departments.
The NACD's first report, Drug Use Prevention: An Overview of Research, was published last December and a further report, An overview of the effectiveness of Buprenorphine as a form of treatment for Opiate Addiction, was launched in late October.
Currently, the NACD is progressing over 30 research projects, which are at various stages of development. Among the main projects currently under way are: a study to estimate the prevalence of opiate drug use in Ireland; and a longitudinal study on the effectiveness of methadone treatment and other interventions in relation to opiate dependence. It is expected the study on prevalence will be completed by the end of 2002 while the longitudinal study will take a number of years to complete.
In addition, the drug misuse research division of the Health Research Board, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children, also carries out research in this area. Some of the main research areas include: drug use among prisoners; public knowledge, attitudes and belief on drug misuse; drug use in rural Ireland; and trends in drug misuse among individuals in treatment.
Functions of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs
–Review current information and research capacity
–Identify gaps in our knowledge and understanding
–Ensure better use of information available from all sectors
–Provide analysis and interpretation of research findings
–Respond to Government requests to research issues of relevance to policy;
–Work with the Drug Misuse Research Division (DMRD) of the Health Research Board (HRB) on the establishment of a National Documentation Centre;
–Implement the three year programme of research and evaluation liaising with all the relevant agencies and avoiding duplication of work; co-ordinating and advising on appropriate research projects; commissioning research projects,
–Promote and encourage debate through the dissemination of research findings.
Three-Year Work Programme
Inventory of Research and Information:
–to compile a comprehensive inventory of existing research and information sets relating to the prevalence, prevention, treatment-rehabilitation and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland
Improved co-ordination of research and data collection:
–to open communication channels with key agencies to ensure that the NAC is kept informed of any new research being undertaken or new data being collected;
–to establish a research network which will ensure better co-ordination and integration of research projects among relevant agencies and maximise resources in the context of the National Advisory Committee's programme of research;
