Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 February 2003

National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008: Statements.

 

Action is required in respect of the level of support for families. If one child in a family is a heroin addict, this has a colossal impact on the other family members. We have not done enough to support families trying to help a loved one kick the habit. In my area we have a group called SWAN which works solely with families in which there is a drug addict. Unfortunately, in the most recent plans put forward, the Department did not recognise sufficiently the kind of funding required for these groups if they are to provide support. The encouragement provided by families is often the only way forward in terms of getting addicts off drugs. Will the Minister of State look at additional funding mechanisms in regard to this? The eight people working in this project in my constituency come from the community employment scheme or the JI, jobs initiative. Two of those jobs will go in the next few months and will not be replaced. What will happen then and who will take over? This area needs further investigation. The best support we can give is to improve the level of funding for groups working with the families of addicts who are trying to kick the habit.

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