Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2009 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47041/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to Questions 26 & 30 of earlier today.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his response to the publication by the Health Research Board of research indicating the number of deaths indirectly caused by drugs over the eight year period between 1998 and 2005; the number of deaths in this period; the steps he is taking to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47040/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the publication of this report by the Health Research Board. Published in November, it details deaths that were indirectly caused by drugs over the eight year period from 1998 to 2005. It is a follow-on publication from the National Drugs Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), published in late 2008, when details of deaths directly related to drug taking were made available. The data presented shows an increasing number of deaths that are indirectly related to drug taking, rising from 63 in 1998 to 167 in 2005. The total number of deaths over the period was 885. These deaths arose from traumatic and from medical causes and I extend my deepest sympathy to everyone affected by them.

I hope that this publication will serve to re-emphasise the message of the dangers of drugs. Apart from being a direct cause of death, drug taking can cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures and chest problems as well as a range of severe mental problems. Furthermore, I hope that the publication of stark facts in the overall NDRDI will help to prevent people from starting a drugs habit, and will help others to consider their use of drugs, to seek treatment and ultimately to become drug free.

The information from the NDRDI contributed to the process of drawing up the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. I believe that the new Strategy will facilitate tackling of the drugs problem comprehensively over the coming years. Also, the Deputy should note that work has commenced on development of a National Substance Misuse Strategy to combine the approach to drugs and alcohol. A Steering Group, jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Health & Children, has been established in that regard and interested parties have been invited to submit their views on the content of the combined policy by the end of January.