Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has received a copy of the recent report on cocaine use here by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs; his views on the finding that cocaine use here is almost twice as high as in Northern Ireland; his further views on the report in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4435/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department requested the National Advisory Committee on Drugs to commission the fourth bulletin of the Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2002-2003 Drug Prevalence Survey dealing with cocaine use. I launched the report on 12 January of this year. This is the first time we have had such detailed baseline information available at a population level on issues such as regular use of cocaine, how and where the drug was obtained and reasons for quitting, together with attitudinal information towards cocaine use.

A total number of 8,434 people aged 15 to 64 were surveyed by MORI MRC on behalf of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and the Drugs and Alcohol Information and Research Unit, Northern Ireland. Of these, 4,918 were in the Republic of Ireland and 3,516 in Northern Ireland. While the report showed that younger people, aged 15 to 34, reported greater levels of cocaine use than older people it should be borne in mind that the proportion of such younger people is higher in the Republic of Ireland.

In regard to the survey findings generally, they provide valuable insights into the social context in which the drug is used. Over three quarters of recent users — used in the last year — obtained their drugs from someone known to them. The findings contributed to the rationale for the targeted two-phased multi-media cocaine awareness campaign. This campaign, managed by the health promotion unit as part of the national drugs strategy, targeted young people aged 18 to 35 years and focused on the dangers and consequences of cocaine use. Furthermore, substance misuse prevention programmes are now on the curricula of all schools.

A new drug prevalence study will be carried out in late 2006-early 2007. Preliminary analysis will be done in the subsequent months leading to a first report of national prevalence figures and trends later in 2007.