Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very positive that we are having another discussion in Private Members' time on drugs. This debate follows on from a motion tabled by Deputy Joan Collins previously and one I tabled prior to that. I wish to acknowledge the work of Deputy Curran on this motion and his work on a strategy for drugs in a previous Government. This debate is opportune because of the CityWide event that took place last week where the urgent need to restore confidence in the national drugs strategy was stressed, particularly because of the threat to and undermining of the partnership approach that was at the heart of drug policies and strategies since the mid-1990s. The drugs problem started in the north inner city when heroin appeared in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was no coincidence that heroin first appeared in an area of poverty with very poor facilities, low progression in education and high unemployment. It was the community that led the response, whether it was to supply by way of marches on the homes of known drug dealers or to treatment. The consequence was that many community led and community driven projects were set up in the north inner city and out of that came the drugs task forces. It is the north inner city drugs task force that I know the best but all the task forces have in common an inter-agency, partnership approach with voluntary, statutory and community voices at the table. The approach was very much bottom-up which was really important for the communities because they were the ones who were living with the drugs problem. It was their families and friends who were caught up in addiction, in the criminality that is associated with drugs and in trying to find recovery. We are all aware of the number of drug-related deaths in communities and that number is increasing.

What is happening now is that decision-making is being taken away from the partnership structure. Now the Department of Health and the HSE are making the decisions in a top-down manner. I am not disputing the decisions but am questioning the way they are being made. It is getting to the point where the drugs task forces are almost irrelevant but it is the task forces which have everybody at the table. I went back to the national drugs strategy and in the foreword recognition is given to the importance of community experience and knowledge in terms of reducing harm and supporting recovery and it is vital that we get back to that. We must consider the extent of the public consultation that contributed to the strategy, including six regional events and all the questionnaires that were filled in. The strategy is very clear on what needs to be done. The vision is clear, as are the values which include compassion, inclusion and partnership. The goals are very clear, with a national oversight committee to give leadership and direction and to measure performance. What is being stressed is the health-led, person-centred approach. I reread chapter 10 today in advance of this debate. It sets out the action plan, the lead agency and the partners who are to deliver. We know what to do, why we are doing it and how to do it. It is really important that we get on with it and at the core of that is the inter-agency, partnership approach. It is not just about community participation but about communities being at the heart of the decision making.

It would be most unusual for somebody presenting to an addiction service to have only an addiction issue. It is estimated that between 50% to 80% of those who present to addiction services will also have a mental health issue. Therefore, an holistic approach is absolutely vital in treatment. The work is challenging but the integrated approach is more cost effective in the long run in terms of recovery. The recent opening of the Inclusion Health Hub in the north inner city was a very positive development in that context.

Drug-related intimidation is a reality for many communities. I attended an interesting conference last year entitled Lives without Fear hosted by the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce. At the heart of intimidation was fear and the role of the community policing forum was so relevant in that context. It provided a space for communities to bring their fears to the co-ordinator who could then liaise with gardaí and Dublin City Council. We have lost our community policing forum in the north inner city. It needs to be reformed and a new funding stream needs to be found for it. The community policing forum is much more effective than the joint policing committee, JPC, system.

Prevention and education was a heading under the strategy. It was always the Cinderella of the strategy but it is vital that we work with young people. We have done that in the north inner city and have produced two reports based on discussions with young people entitled Just Saying and Let's Get Specific. More recently, a programme was rolled out in one of the schools. An outside group came in and worked with the school through the SPHE stream. While country-wide well-being is very good, those areas where there are serious drug problems need something extra.

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