Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern, to the House and I wish him every success in his continued work in his Department.

On page 26 of the report of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, I read of a three source study of opiate or heroin use in Dublin. This study was carried out between 2000 and 2003. Three data sources were used — the central drug treatment list; the national Garda study on illicit drug use and related criminal activity; and the hospital inpatient inquiry database.

Overall, it is estimated that, in 2001, 14,450 people were using heroin in Ireland. When the figures for Dublin only were extracted and the statistical technique reapplied they showed that 12,456 people were using heroin, aged between 15 and 54. This compares favourably with the 1996 figure of 13,461. Most important, a significant change is apparent in the age profile of heroin users. Fewer young people aged between 15 and 24 are using heroin. This phenomenon needs to be further investigated. One reason for this is that in recent years there has been an increase in the drug treatment services provided by health boards and drugs task forces which has facilitated the opening of community-based services for drug users. We all hope this trend will continue among young people. It is important that a follow-up study should take place on the use of heroin in Ireland.

A new drugs trend monitoring system has been established to help support the National Advisory Committee on Drugs. This is to meet the objectives set out under the programme for Government and the national drugs strategy regarding the identification of new drug trends, including drugs such as heroin, ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis. The aim of the drugs trend monitoring system is to identify trends, including the availability of new drugs, as well as new patterns and combinations of drug use. The emphasis in the drugs trend monitoring system is on tapping into drugs trends at an early stage of their life cycle. This will be achieved through a network of trend monitors among frontline workers and a media monitoring system which will allow the National Advisory Committee on Drugs to monitor drug seizures, drug-related court cases and local drug issues.

The first drugs trend monitoring system results will be given to the Government in 2005 and will be repeated annually. The good news is that there has been a drop in the number of 15-24 year olds using drugs. It is important for the young people in the Gallery to hear that fact. Help is available to assist people caught up in drug abuse in order to get them off drugs so their lives will not be debilitated.

The former Minister of State, Deputy Eoin Ryan, introduced the report of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, which we are debating today. It is important for school teachers to get their hands on this report so they will know exactly what is happening.