ULSTER'S NEW DRUGS CZAR READY FOR BATTLE AHEAD

NORTHERN Ireland's newly-appointed "drugs czar" today vowed she would
do everything in her power to tackle the growing drugs menace head-on.

Jo Daykin is committed to linking the Government and community groups
together to tackle the escalating scourge.

She was speaking as she said farewell to her co-workers and friends at
the Dunlewey Substance Advice Centre in Belfast which she founded 14
years ago.

Before being appointed to the new position of Northern Ireland drugs
strategy coordinator, Ms Daykin was director at the centre which
provides help and advice about drugs to people across Belfast,
Newtownabbey and north Down.

She said she was looking forward to the challenge.

"Drugs are becoming more readily available here with a worrying
increase in the availability of heroin," she said.

"There is no one person, body or even Government department which can
solve the drugs problem - it's got to be a genuine collaboration
between all of the interested groups."

Ms Daykin built up the advice centre from one person working in Divis
- - herself - to the 14 that now work for it.

The centre has just been awarded a standard of excellence - the
Investment in People Award - which was a fitting tribute to Ms
Daykin's work as she left.

Her successor Annette Goodall said she had no doubt Ms Daykin would
put her heart and soul into her new job.

"The Dunlewey Centre was started by her and it really is her baby and
we are so grateful for all her hard work," she said.

"I am sure that in her new role she will be able to make a real
impact."