Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2006
Source: Athlone Advertiser (Ireland)
Copyright: 2006 Athlone Advertiser
Contact:  http://www.athloneadvertiser.ie/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4335

DRUG STRATEGY TO BE WELCOMED

News That the Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force Is to Finally Publish
Theie Long Awaited Action Plan Is to Be Welcomed by All in the Midlands.

Conceived in 2003 as part of a national strategy to deal with the 
ongoing prelevance of substance abuse across the country, the action 
plans by the 14 Regional Task Forces across the country will attempt 
to put in place a strategy based on prevention rather than cure.

That there is a problem in Athlone, and the other Midlands towns, is 
obvious to anyone who ventures out any day or night of the week.

But lest we fool ourselves into thinking that this is something that 
effects only a very small number of people who abuse drugs, it is 
important to remember that the Task Force will also address problems 
around the most commonly abused substance in Irish society today - 
and that drug is alcohol.

Is there anyone in Irish society who can say that they have not been 
affected in some way or another by alcohol?

You may not drink and you may never have touched a drop in your life; 
your house could be as dry as the Sahara, but whether you like it or 
not, drink is everywhere you look.

This weekend alone, 459 people were arrested for drink driving, 
despite all the warnings from all the agencies that if you drink and 
drive now you will be caught. Any weekend night you want, you only 
have to take to the streets to see the damage that alcohol is doing 
in our society - it is everywhere, and it is becoming a bigger and 
bigger problem.

And it is not just on our streets, it is in our homes.

It results in broken families, broken marriages and, unfortunately, 
in some circumstances, broken bones as the result of domestic violence.

A recent report commissioned by the Department of Health found that 
in the past 10 years per capita consumption of alcohol in Ireland has 
increased by over 40 per cent.

One of the most serious findings of that study was that binge 
drinking has markedly increased among younger people.

The rate of alcohol increase among young women, some aged just 15 and 
16 years is a cause of particular concern.

In addition, the link between alcohol abuse and teenage suicide has 
been raised by many in the health profession as an issue that must be tackled.

The survey on why young people take jobs outside of school hours was 
conducted by the former director of Dundalk Institute of Technology, 
Dr Sean McDonagh.

In light of this the action plan for the Midlands is a bit of good news.

After undertaking a comprehensive consultation process the plan was 
completed during 2005 and submitted for approval for Government funding.

The plan is being officially launched on the November 2 in the 
Tullamore Court Hotel and will progress a range of measures across 
the four pillars of education/prevention, supply reduction, 
treatment/rehabilitation, and research.

The first initiative of the taskforce is the small grants scheme, 
which was advertised in September and is aimed at stimulating 
activity among the voluntary and community sector across the region 
to tackle substance abuse.

Over 40 applications have been received so far and more are expected.

While the plan has been a long time coming, its publication marks 
another small step forward in the war on drugs, and is to be welcomed 
by all and sundry.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine