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.