John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

The drug prevalence statistics contained in the recently published report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction were compiled from the latest figures available for individual countries. In the case of Ireland, they reflect the outcome of the all-island drug prevalence survey 2006 to 2007, which provides the best estimate of the drug prevalence. One of the findings of the 2006 to 2007 survey was the emergence of cocaine as a threat, particularly among younger adults. On the other hand, whole-population surveys are not a reliable mechanism for assessing heroin use as the numbers of people involved are relatively small.

Overall the EMCDDA report points out that cocaine use has risen across Europe; heroin use, which is covered in much less depth in the report, is stable across Europe but no longer shows a decline; and polydrug use is now the norm among problem drug users. These points are broadly in line with experience in Ireland. The introduction to the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 speaks of the growth in cocaine use, albeit from a low base, the dispersal of heroin use around the country because when the 2001-2008 strategy was drawn up heroin use was seen primarily as a Dublin issue, and polydrug use as a norm among problem drug users.

Accordingly, the new strategy, which was launched in September, has been drawn up with the aim of addressing such issues. The overall strategic objective of the strategy is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The new strategy has an appropriate balance between supply reduction and demand reduction initiatives. Supply reduction measures will focus in particular on measures to reduce the volume of illicit drugs reaching Ireland and the disruption of the activities of organised criminal networks. In regard to demand reduction, there will be a significant emphasis on prevention measures, with some such measures focusing on the broad population, while others will target specific groups deemed to be most at risk. We must endeavour to equip young people, in particular, with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed choices about their health and future that will include a rejection of drug use. There will be also a major focus on developing a national integrated treatment and rehabilitation service to aid those already involved with drugs.

The difficulties facing our society as a consequence of problem drug use are significant and addressing all the factors involved will not be easy. However, I am determined that real progress will be made across the period of the strategy, with all sectors working in a co-ordinated and targeted way, to achieve the implementation of the agreed actions.

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