Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her co-operation on yesterday's Private Members' business. It was greatly appreciated. This is a very serious matter and it can be difficult to leave a group of friends or to stand up to peer pressure. It is a stressful situation for those directly involved, as well as their parents. It is alarming that of one social group of 20 young people, 18 are regular drug users. It is hard to imagine the scale of the mental health issues caused by drug use across the country. We might be able to treat or deal with the physical health issues associated with neurological and substance use disorders but any strategies adopted must include mental health provisions as well. This problem exists all over Ireland and we can be pretty sure that similar scenarios exist in every constituency on the island. We need to update our schools drug policy. Funding for mental health services is required in this regard but we need to make that provision as well.

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