Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The debate last week began that process. The Taoiseach called on anyone likely to get involved in drug misuse not to do so. I echo the call of the Doyle family that young people say no to drugs. A number of local radio stations are working in this regard. The cross care site seems to have attracted an enormous amount of attention when Members spoke of engaging with web-based technology in promoting awareness campaigns. I found it extraordinary that there were 5,000 new registrations on that site. Today I received an e-mail from another web-based organisation involved in drugs education, stating that it is prepared to co-operate with the scheme. I do not underestimate the challenge.

I call on anyone tempted to get involved in drug misuse to say no to the temptation. I ask people to look out for unusual behaviour in their work colleagues aged 20 to 35, including unusual attendance or absence patterns or missed repayments on the house, apartment, car or motorbike. At home, those living with younger people should look out for unusual patterns of coming, going, sleeping and eating or valuables disappearing from the house. It may be due to other factors but these are signs associated with drug misuse.

Excellent campaigns by transition year students throughout the country on alcohol and drug misuse have taken place. This is a lethal cocktail — alcohol and drugs, or polydrug use, is the new phenomenon we must address.

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