Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House once again. I warmly welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue and I compliment Senator Brian Hayes on raising it.

This is a complex area. Despite ongoing efforts by Governments around the world to deal with the problem of drug abuse, no single universally acceptable and effective response model has emerged. The model adopted by this and previous Governments is having an effect. This model has evolved over a number of years, mainly in response to the ground level reaction of local communities to the explosion of social problems caused by the illegal supply and misuse of drugs in the 1970s and 1980s. Following the marches and other forms of protest and, indeed, numerous deaths, local drugs task forces were set up in 1997. Because of their make-up and membership, the task forces have proven over time that their integrated holistic approach has gone some way to stemming the problem.

I had the privilege of being involved in the early 1990s with the first inter-agency drugs project in the north inner city. That proved to be a model for the existing task forces. It was extremely effective because it drew together many different strands. By focusing on the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, that initiative for the first time brought the elements together into a single coherent framework and indicated clearly the responsibilities of people who work in this area.

I agree with Senator Ó Murchú that education is the main key to prevention. I welcome the fact that the Department of Education and Science is now represented on all the task forces. The aim is to have a substance misuse prevention programme in all schools in the next three years.

Addicts are getting younger. Parents, teachers and children have to be educated in how to recognise the signs of drug misuse. Peer pressure, as Senator Ó Murchú has said, plays a large part in the proliferation of drugs problems and all children need to be taught the skills necessary to deal with these pressures.

I am pleased to see work is progressing in the development of a protocol for the treatment of under 18 year olds. The many groups working in towns and cities throughout the country will say that even more crucial than detoxification or stabilisation of an addict is the ongoing rehabilitation and reintegration of the person back into society. Counselling plays a huge part in getting the addict back into a position where they feel worthy to re-enter society.