Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs published a report on cocaine addiction recently. Addiction in the UK is increasing because there is greater acceptability of the use of cocaine and, similar to Ireland, the price has reduced. Our report found that younger people felt that cocaine helped sporting performance and the drug was acceptable. Should local and regional task forces focus on these issues? A focussed campaign is needed to disabuse people of the view that cocaine use is acceptable and it enhances sporting prowess.

Whereas a substitute therapy for cocaine use similar to that used to treat heroin addicts is not available, methods can be adopted through which cocaine addicts can be treated through the psychiatric services and so on. The task forces need to focus on this and they must realise how great a problem cocaine use is becoming. Almost €500 million per annum was spent between 1995 and 2004 on the drug in this State.

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