CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS RURAL DRUG PROBLEM

Drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy are now found in almost every town
and village in the country, a major drugs conference organised by the
gardai will be told today.

Delegates at the two-day conference will be told that rural Ireland
has an emerging drug problem which needs to be addressed.

The Monaghan conference, which will be addressed by drug experts from
Ireland, the US, Britain and the Continent, will look specifically at
the threat posed by drug use in rural areas.

The event is being opened by the Minister of State at the Department
of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Eoin Ryan, who has special
responsibility for National Drugs Strategy.

Mr Ryan is expected to tell delegates that the Government is conscious
of the growing need to address an emerging drug problem in rural
Ireland. He will warn strongly that the use of illicit substances is
now a nationwide phenomenon, encompassing not only the large urban
centres, but also smaller towns and villages.

However, the experience in Dublin has shown that, if left unchecked,
the problem has the potential to quickly spiral out of control,
particularly in disadvantaged communities.