Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The question is perhaps timely as we are running into the budgetary cycle. I do not see in mainstream media and across the board the type of awareness campaigns this problem needs. I acknowledge the figures the Minister of State has quoted. Certainly among some demographics, I think the figures are far worse than those she has quoted. Among our younger population, this is something that needs to be addressed. The short-term, medium-term and long-term consequences of cocaine use and abuse in some circumstances - to be honest, I think any use is abuse - need to be a serious issue on the agenda. In my day, back in the 1990s and 2000s, when people were out after a few drinks, they might go to the top shelf if they were taking things a bit further. It seems that cocaine has now gazumped all other types of behaviour and is now the accepted normal drug of choice. That is extremely worrying. I see much more in the media about vaping, for example, than about cocaine and that needs to be addressed.

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