Pubdate: Tue, 21 September 1999 Source: Examiner, The (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 1999 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ DRUGS FIGHT FUNDING SOUGHT A NATIONAL organisation working to prevent drug addiction has called for greater regional funding in the fight against drugs. Marie Byrne, director, Aisling Group, said they could establish branches in every county if the Government provided more finance outside designated task force areas in Cork and Dublin. The organisation started out 13 years ago as a community group in Navan, Co Meath, then spread out into the north east, setting up groups in Cavan and Monaghan. "We now have groups meeting in Tipperary, Waterford and Laois and in the last two months have started to work in conjunction with Asst Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty in Sligo. Having the useful community contacts of the gardai will be very helpful in setting up new groups," Ms Byrne said. "Community groups will be running drug prevention programmes originating in the US, involving adults and parents. We're also linked with European organisations which have grown so much. "Dublin and Cork have the only task force areas under the national drugs strategy, but we would like to see the money also coming to the regions. We are a voluntary organisation and we get some bit of funding from the North Eastern Health Board. "But money should be made available to every group working to fight drugs. If the drugs situation is a national issue then it should be dealt with throughout the country," she said. The Aisling Group are hosting a two day international conference in Carrickmackross, Co Monaghan this week to increase awareness of drug prevention, up to date research on drugs, organised crime and community, national and international responses. They operate a helpline for addicts or anyone seeking advice on (046) 74300. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D