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National Drugs Strategy.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2006

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Ceisteanna (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

76 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is satisfied that the response by his Department to the huge increase in the use of cocaine is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10766/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

80 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether cocaine abuse is spiralling out of control; his further views on the need for a more coherent policy on tackling the rapid increase in the rise of cocaine use across the Twenty-six Counties; and if so, the measures which have been devised to tackle this epidemic. [10773/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

93 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has had discussions with the Department of Health and Children in regard to the anticipated increase in cocaine users presenting for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10814/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

109 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether the four pilot projects to deal with the spread of cocaine use here is sufficient to deal with the problem; his further views on introducing additional measures to tackle this serious problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10767/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

111 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on how serious and prevalent the use of cocaine is throughout the Twenty-six Counties; and what he intends to do to combat this worrying trend. [10777/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 80, 93, 109 and 111 together.

While anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been a growth in the use of cocaine, we are not in a position to quantify the level of any increase. The 2002-03 national drug prevalence survey provides comprehensive baseline information on cocaine use in this country. This study, which surveyed 8,442 people aged 15-64 in Ireland and Northern Ireland between October 2002 and April 2003, reported that 3% of the population had used cocaine at some time, 1.1% had used it in the previous 12 months and 0.3% had used it in the previous month. I understand that these figures put us at roughly average at that time in terms of cocaine use in other European countries where similar comprehensive population surveys were undertaken.

It is intended that a second comprehensive drug prevalence study will be carried out from late 2006 to mid-2007. Preliminary analysis will be done in the months following that, with a first report of national prevalence figures and trends expected late in 2007. At that stage we will be much better placed to measure effectively changes in the level of cocaine use in Ireland.

I am confident that through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy and the projects and initiatives operated through the local and regional drugs task forces, the problem of cocaine use can be addressed. Each of the drugs task forces has in place an action plan to tackle drug use in their area based on their own identified priorities and they continue to have ongoing contact with their local communities.

There is no substitution treatment drug for cocaine and existing services, such as counselling and behavioural therapy, are the best treatments available. In this context, the Health Service Executive has recruited additional counsellors and outreach workers in recent years. Furthermore, in 2005 I launched four pilot cocaine treatment projects to examine different methods of treatment for cocaine use, as well as a training initiative focusing on frontline workers. Funding of almost €400,000 was provided by me to support these initiatives. The four projects deal with the following cohorts of cocaine users: intravenous cocaine users; poly-drug users using cocaine; problematic intranasal cocaine users; and problematic female cocaine users.

The evaluation of these pilot projects has commenced and it is expected that a preliminary report will be available in the coming months. The main thrust of the evaluation will be to analyse, in a systematic manner, what is being achieved by the projects and to report on the lessons to be learned as a result. It is hoped that the results of this evaluation will aid the formulation of effective actions aimed at tackling cocaine misuse. If they prove to be effective, I will roll similar projects out on a national basis, where necessary.

All schools now have substance misuse prevention programmes. In addition, the national drugs awareness campaign focused specifically on cocaine use in 2004-05. This well received campaign sought to dispel the image that cocaine was a clean and safe drug with few detrimental consequences. Moreover, I have established a rehabilitation working group to examine the current provision of services for drug misusers, including those who abuse cocaine. This group includes representatives from a range of Departments and agencies involved in delivering rehabilitation services as well as the national drugs strategy team, NDST, the national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, and representatives from the community and voluntary sectors. The report of the working group will be available in the coming months.

I assure the Deputies that I am in ongoing contact with all those involved in the provision of treatment, including the Minister for Health and Children. While the problems of cocaine use must not be underestimated, I believe progress is being made and I will continue to respond in a flexible and focused way as the situation evolves.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

77 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he has taken to discuss and deal with the problems, as expressed by representatives of the community sector, with the implementation of the national drugs strategy; if he has met with community representatives regarding their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

81 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps he has taken to address the concerns raised by the community sector regarding the national drugs strategy team since the resignation of a person (details supplied). [10776/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 81 together.

Representatives of the community sector remain fully engaged in all aspects of the national drugs strategy. This includes the continuation of their input to the work of the national drugs strategy team, NDST, in partnership with other members. The community sector representative on the NDST has recently resigned and I have asked the NDST to liaise with the community sector representatives on the local and regional drugs task forces with a view to recommending a replacement representative. Meanwhile, the community sector representatives also continue to play a full part in the work of the local and regional drugs task forces. There is similar full engagement with the national assessment committee of the young people's facilities and services fund and the interdepartmental group on drugs.

I believe that the significant steps being taken, both by my Department and other agencies involved in the implementation of the strategy, including the substantially increased funding for this year, will help allay concerns community representatives might have about progress and our sustained commitment. At the same time, there are encouraging signs of progress in recent years — be it in the areas of drug seizures, the expansion of treatment services or in prevention programmes in schools. The landscape has changed significantly and, while there is certainly no room for complacency, it is also important to acknowledge our achievements.

All of us who are involved in tackling the problems of drugs misuse share the same aims. I am sure that we will continue to address and overcome any issues that arise from time to time so that we can jointly tackle the misuse of drugs in the most effective way possible into the future.

Question No. 78 answered with QuestionNo. 73.
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