US APPROACH TO DRUG ABUSE IS WORTH COPYING

Education, treatment and law enforcement helped the US cut illegal
drug use from 14% of the population to 4% in 13 years, a member of the
US Drug Enforcement Agency said yesterday.

These were the keys to improving the situation in this country, and it
should start with helping parents to educate their children about drug
abuse, Wayne Rogues told a drug awareness conference.

The key to a drug free society should begin with helping parents
educate their children about the dangers of drug abuse, according to a
United States drug prevention specialist.

Wayne Roques, who has more than 26 years experience with the US Drug
Enforcement Agency, said Ireland should allocate much greater funding
to tackle the problem.

He said the significant reduction in drug use from 14% to 4% of the US
population between 1979 and 1992 was the result of a massive campaign
of improved education and awareness, as well as treatment and law
enforcement.

“The primary focus in the fight against drugs has to begin at home and
the community also has to be involved. Parents should educate
themselves as well as possible, and tell their children they won't
tolerate them using drugs,” Mr Roques said.

“The idea is that if someone never takes up drugs they will never have
to quit.”

Most of Mr Roques’ career was spent as a DEA agent in the Florida and
the Caribbean. However, he also worked as a demand reduction
coordinator for the agency before his retirement four years ago. He
has given thousands of presentations to community and parents groups,
and has also testified before the US Congress and State and local
government hearings.

He addressed the conference, called Drugs Initiatives for the 21st
Century, in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, organised by the Aisling
community drug prevention organisation.

“On average, it takes parents two years before they realise their
children are on something, sometimes because of denial, but often
because they don't know what signs to look for,” he explained.

“The Government needs to put a significant amount of money into
various programmes if they want to prevent drug use.”

She said measures currently being implemented under the National Drugs
Strategy in local task force areas in Dublin and Cork were working
well.