This is a long-term strategy but there is already much progress to report. Under its prevention pillar are included a number of actions for which the Department of Education and Science and the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children are responsible. A joint substance abuse policy committee comprising officials of both Departments has been convened to establish what support schools need to implement the drugs policy guidelines produced last May. The Department of Education and Science is recruiting extra support staff to enable it to deliver substance misuse prevention programmes as a priority in all schools within local drugs task force areas. All second level schools are to introduce such programmes from September 2003.