Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which the national drugs strategy team is addressing middle class regular use of cocaine; his views on whether there is a growing national problem in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4425/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is very difficult to quantify drug use by socio-economic group. However, the Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2002-2003 Drug Prevalence Survey contained some questions pertaining to such groups. The fourth bulletin of the drug prevalence survey, focusing on cocaine, was recently launched. This survey indicates that there is no association between socio-economic group and cocaine use on a lifetime, last year or last month basis. However, respondents from the socio-economic group E, those who are long-term dependent on the State, reported a slightly higher lifetime prevalence, but the divergence was not statistically significant.

At my request, the national drugs strategy team set up a cocaine subgroup to come up with proposals to tackle cocaine misuse across all social classes. This subgroup was made up of people working on the ground, who might be expected to have the greatest degree of current knowledge of the cocaine problem. Arising from their recommendations, I launched four pilot cocaine treatment projects to examine different methods of treatment for cocaine use, as well as a training initiative focusing on frontline workers. Funding of almost €400,000 was provided by me to support these initiatives.

The four projects deal with the following cohorts of cocaine users: intravenous cocaine users; poly-drug users using cocaine; problematic intranasal cocaine users; and problematic female cocaine users. The evaluation of these pilot projects has commenced and it is expected that a preliminary report will be available in the coming months. The main thrust of the evaluation will be to analyse, in a systematic manner, what is being achieved by the projects and to report on the lessons to be learned as a result. It is hoped that the results of this evaluation will aid the formulation of further effective actions aimed at tackling cocaine misuse.