Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has satisfied himself that the national drugs strategy is sufficient to deal with the national drugs problem; his views on whether further resources are required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30928/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the steering group on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy was published in June of this year. The report was the culmination of a comprehensive review, which was launched last year and which included extensive public consultations. The review was overseen by a steering group, chaired by my Department, and comprised representatives of the relevant Departments and agencies as well as the community and voluntary sectors. Assistance was provided by external consultants. The review sought to assess the impact and direction of the strategy at its mid-point and the steering group concentrated on identifying beneficial adjustments to the strategy and highlighting priorities for the second phase up to 2008.

I am pleased the steering group found that the current aims and objectives of the drugs strategy are fundamentally sound. It was confirmed there have been encouraging signs of progress since 2001, when the strategy was first launched, suggesting that our current approach to tackling the drug problem is effective. At the same time, however, the review highlights the need to re-focus priorities and accelerate the roll-out and implementation of various key actions in the remaining period of the strategy up to 2008. In this context, a number of new actions, and amendments to others, have been identified. These changes will strengthen the strategy and enable it to better deliver its aims. Overall, ten of the strategy's 100 actions are being replaced, a further seven are being amended and eight new actions are being taken to address issues such as family support and rehabilitation. With regard to progress, the review found that 49 of the original 100 actions outlined in the strategy are completed or are ongoing, progress was ongoing on a further 45 and considerable progress has still to be made on six actions.

Funding to tackle drug misuse is channelled through a number of relevant Departments and agencies. In this regard, I have responsibility for funding the work of the local and regional drugs task forces, the young people's facilities and services fund and the national advisory committee on drugs. In 2005, I secured an 18% increase on the 2004 allocation and the funds available this year for these activities amount to €31.5 million. Since 1997, the Government has allocated just under €200 million to fund this work. These amounts are in addition to the significant spending of other Departments and agencies, such as the Health Service Executive, the Garda and FÁS, in tackling the issue of drug misuse. All these bodies agreed to deliver a number of actions under the national drugs strategy. In this regard, I am confident that, as the strategy progresses, resources will be made available to implement the actions agreed.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State agree the strategy needs to be much more proactive in addressing the increasing cocaine problem? Between 1995 and 2004 cocaine worth €537 million was seized. Based on international norms, ten times that amount probably reached the streets. The average weekly use of cocaine in Ireland is 3 grams and chronic addicts use between 5 and 10 grams. The price of cocaine has reduced significantly and it costs between €30 and €40 per 0.5 gram, which means that average users spend between €180 and €240 per week and chronic users spend between €300 and €600 per week.

Cocaine use among males increased from 1.8% in 2001 to 3% in 2003, which is a worrying statistic, while 5.1% of those in the 18 to 24 year group use cocaine. Cocaine use peaked in the US in the 1990s at 25 million users and 2 million addicts while it is peaking in the UK now. There are grave concerns in the UK that the number of strokes and heart attacks among young people as a result of severe addictions will increase. All the indications are that Ireland is experiencing an increasing problem on a horrendous scale and I remain to be convinced that the national drugs strategy is proactive enough to deal with this major problem, which is potentially worse than the heroin problem.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that when the drugs problem emerged, the drugs strategy was developed and the task forces were set up, the focus was on heroin in disadvantaged areas of Dublin. Cocaine has always been used but the drug was inclined to be used by the more professional classes. However, as the Deputy said, the price of cocaine has reduced significantly and the use of the drug is the major problem now. It is used by all age groups from teenagers upwards. However, the strategy is flexible enough to adapt and address new problems.

Despite everything that is said about heroin, methadone is a substitute treatment and one of the major problems in addressing cocaine use is the lack of an equivalent substitute treatment. The best we can offer addicts who come forward, which is a problem in itself, is counselling and behavioural therapy. Heroin has a bad image, even among users, whereas cocaine is perceived as a clean, harmless drug because it is used by film stars and others, even though it is nothing of the sort. We face a major battle against that perception. Awareness campaigns are run but it is difficult to get through to people the damage they are doing to themselves because it is not obvious in the short term.

A number of cocaine initiatives were approved this time last year. Approximately 600 staff on various drugs projects are funded and many of them have received upskilling and retraining this year to enable them to help people with a cocaine addiction.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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The Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs published a report on cocaine addiction recently. Addiction in the UK is increasing because there is greater acceptability of the use of cocaine and, similar to Ireland, the price has reduced. Our report found that younger people felt that cocaine helped sporting performance and the drug was acceptable. Should local and regional task forces focus on these issues? A focussed campaign is needed to disabuse people of the view that cocaine use is acceptable and it enhances sporting prowess.

Whereas a substitute therapy for cocaine use similar to that used to treat heroin addicts is not available, methods can be adopted through which cocaine addicts can be treated through the psychiatric services and so on. The task forces need to focus on this and they must realise how great a problem cocaine use is becoming. Almost €500 million per annum was spent between 1995 and 2004 on the drug in this State.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with most of the Deputy's comments and I accept cocaine use is a major problem. The task forces and the national drugs strategy team are trying to make people aware of the dangers of cocaine use. The Department of Health and Children runs awareness campaigns, including a cocaine specific campaign. Cocaine is a dangerous substance with significant side effects, particularly heart failure and lung damage and mixed with alcohol, it can cause severe psychological problems and generate aggressive behaviour. We are trying to make people aware of that although it is not easy because one is fighting against an image perceived to be glamorous. There has been an example of this in the media recently. Much of the damage to individuals is not immediately or swiftly evident. Some users' problems may build up over time and they may not be aware of them.