A European study that has revealed drug use is higher than the EU average among young people in Ireland and that we have a more relaxed attitude to drug taking than our European neighbours comes as no surprise to the co- ordinator of the North Dublin Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (RDTF), based in Swords.
Brid Walsh is the co-ordinator of the task force and she told the Fingal Independent this week that she was 'not surprised' at the Eurobarometer survey which showed young people in Ireland had a casual attitude to the abuse of alcohol, cannabis and designer drugs and used all three more than most of their European neighbours.
The devastating effects on lives and families of drug and alcohol abuse are seen daily by the task force, based in Swords but serving clients across Fingal. Since it launched its north Dublin Community Care Service this year, which provides an opportunity for people devastated by drug and alcohol abuse to rebuild their lives, 60 clients are now on its books but the demand is much greater.
According to Ms Walsh, the service has just two permanent case workers dealing with that demand and has been lobbying strongly for more resources.
The task force co-ordinator said that services like theirs faced the twin problem of trying to convince the powers-that-be that Ireland has a problem with drugs and alcohol and also convincing potential users that drugs can wreck lives and should not be approached casually.
Source: John Manning, Irish Independent, 01/09/14
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
