WIDE SUPPORT FOR TOUGH ACTION AGAINST PUSHERS

Crimes linked to drug abuse have engendered high levels of fear among
communities in the Ballyfermot/Cherry Orchard area of Dublin, a survey
suggests. The survey was conducted by a group of local people with the help
of the Vincentian Partnership for Justice.

Some respondents who agreed to fill in the anonymous survey form later
withdrew because "they were afraid that they might be recognised through
their responses and action taken against them".

All age groups agreed that closer involvement by parents with their
children and more gardai are crucial to combating the drugs problem in the
area.

The survey found they wanted tough action on drug pushers, including
eviction and prison. For drug abusers who are not pushers they wanted more
treatment facilities and rehabilitation.

"The perception that young teenagers want more freedom is not borne out by
the results of this survey," says the report. Of 99 schoolgirls surveyed,
28 said families should "know where children are and who they are with,
look after children properly and keep them off the street, limit their
freedom".

Another 23 said parents talking to their children could help them avoid
involvement with drugs. Education on the effects of addiction, including
talks from former addicts, was seen by more than half of the respondents as
a way of preventing drug abuse.

The report concludes that a strategy to tackle the drugs problem should
include education in parenting skills, more clubs and youth facilities,
more rehabilitation services and more gardai.

On policing, it says there is a need "for young people to be helped to
develop a more positive attitude towards the gardai as well as for the
gardai to be more active in building social relations with children and
young people".