Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I also want to mention the role of drug task forces. Local and regional drug and alcohol task forces implement the national drug strategy in the context of the needs of their local areas. The strategy is implemented through action plans that have identified existing and emerging gaps in supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. In my own area, I would mention the North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force. I am doing a piece of work with it now that in some respects is pushing the community development approach out too. It is about creating opportunities for young people to protect them from the risks. Much of that is about getting them involved in the community and in mainstream community organisations. It is a protective measure. It came about following the Planet Youth research that has been conducted in several areas around the country. It came across very strongly that a really important protective measure for young people is to actually get them involved in the development of their community in the long term. That is an approach that can be copied around the country.

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