Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators for expressing their views and acknowledge their desire to co-operate in fighting this problem. Senator McHugh discussed the issue as it affects youth. While the Department of Education and Science has overall responsibility for the Youth Work Act, we have established the young people's services and facilities fund to specifically target areas and communities at risk from drug problems. We have spent more than €125 million in recovered drugs and dormant accounts money on providing youth workers and facilities such as youth cafés. These facilities are concentrated in the greater Dublin area, including the inner city and the suburbs built in the 1970s, such as Coolock, Finglas, Clondalkin and Tallaght, to help young people avoid the dangers of drug abuse by offering them a choice of activities.

Senators McHugh and Ryan claimed the State was ignoring and deserting people. While some of their comments may be partly true and the State's significant increase in spending may indeed be belated, questions of personal responsibility remain. If people are prepare to ruin their own health and lives, the State cannot be fully responsible for them. It certainly has a duty to help those who are prepared to seek help but it cannot be blamed if people act recklessly. If some mother injects her 13 year-old child with heroin, it is not fair to blame the Government. The problems that arise for some people are very complex.

Senators Cummins and Ó Murchú made the connection between alcohol and drugs. At meetings of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body and at international level, I sometimes encounter Ministers who describe themselves as having responsibility for drugs, alcohol and tobacco. However, the drugs strategy in Ireland was developed separately because it was originally a reaction to heroin abuse in particular areas. Ten years ago, if one suggested that local taskforce members should become involved in alcohol control, they would have freaked out because they saw themselves as responsible for addressing a specific problem. On the other hand, people have claimed at meetings of regional drugs taskforces that the biggest problem in their areas is alcohol. The local drugs taskforces in Dublin have also realised the prevalence of what is known as poly-drug users, who consume alcohol one night and whatever is available the next. Therefore, the argument against linking alcohol and drug strategies has become less certain.

The current policy of Government is that my Department has responsibility for the drugs strategy, while the Department of Health and Children is responsible for alcohol. Linkages can be made between the strategy's five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, research and rehabilitation. In schools, for example, the dangers of addiction are emphasised and, whether one refers to cannabis or alcohol, linkages can be made at the prevention level. However, differences arise in terms of the legality of alcohol and the illegality of other drugs. In addition, heroin and, to a lesser extent, cocaine are concentrated in disadvantaged areas and among certain age groups, whereas alcohol is consumed by young and old, rich and poor. The possibility remains, however, of linking the two policies, as is the case in other countries, and communities would not object as strenuously as before to such a linkage.

Senators outlined strategies for dealing with the drugs problem, many of which have already been implemented. I am not suggesting that everything is perfect but improvements have been made. I acknowledge that Senator Henry did not wish to score political points when she raised the need for communities to accept treatment facilities. We have all attended meetings on this issue. Some of the controversy which arose ten years ago, when people objected to treatment facilities, is resurfacing in towns throughout Ireland. However, it is preferable to provide treatment facilities because the alternative is that people will steal or become dealers to find the money for drugs. In one case, a doctor and Fine Gael Dáil candidate in Dublin West led a campaign against the plans of a pharmacy to supply methadone. Large clinics and local primary care centres already supply methadone but pharmacists can serve small numbers of people at the local level. My criticism of the candidate in question, who persuaded 300 frightened middle class women to attend a series of public meetings, is on the basis of his profession rather than his political affiliation. After all, every party is capable of spawning people who cannot resist the temptation to hang their names in lights. Many professionals in the health services were disappointed that one of their own, who should know more than the rest of us, led a charge in that direction.

Cocaine was mentioned by several Senators. There are still approximately 14,500 heroin users in the country and the image of people injecting themselves is particularly nasty. Heroin also carries a severe risks of infection and the sharing of needles and other paraphernalia causes a range of problems. However, even in disadvantaged areas, heroin has come to be regarded as a drug for losers. Cocaine is surrounded by the myth that it is a clean drug, even though it is probably more dangerous than heroin. It can cause serious complications in terms of heart attacks, strokes and respiratory infections and long-term use can result in mental health problems.

Cocaine users do not realise the damage they are doing to themselves. We encounter that attitude among middle class and recreational users but, while their health does not deteriorate as quickly as that of heroin users, they will encounter severe problems over the longer term. They may be able to sniff and snort again and walk away from it. I would never try to give the impression that one is hooked for life after one sniff. To say so is neither fair nor true. Those who develop a regular habit are in big trouble and very slow to cop on. Even given that State services may be perceived to be aimed at heroin users rather than users of other drugs, cocaine users do not recognise or accept they have a problem. It is often only after getting into trouble at work, in relationships or with the bank manager that they seek help, advice and counselling. When they are counselled or analysed, they admit they have a problem.

This problem, on which the State is spending nearly €200 million per year, will not go away. I appreciate the comments made by Senators because every Government will have to deal with the issue. Progress is being made. The single message I can send is that treatment works. When one hears statements to the effect that the number being treated in Waterford has increased by 500%, for example, one should realise this is good. It means there were no services five years ago and that there are some now. Five years ago drug users had to come to Dublin on the train or did not receive treatment. We are trying to attract them to treatment and work with them. I hope that over time we can make them recognise they are damaging their health.

I thank Members for their comments and their support for the national drugs strategy.