MY CHILDREN WERE OFFERED ECSTASY, REVEALS MINISTER

THE man heading the Government's fight against drugs yesterday
revealed how all four of his children had been offered ecstasy and
cannabis.

And Junior Minister Chris Flood warned parents: ``Be very
aware.''

Mr Flood, who is in charge of the Government's National Drugs
Strategy, said he wanted parents to realise that we live in a society
where the chances of getting through adolescence without being
confronted with drugs were slim.

ILLEGAL

The minister said his own children, three girls and a boy aged 16 to
23, had been offered either ecstasy or cannabis, some of them on more
than one occasion.

``I know because they told me,'' he said.

His children had been offered drugs while socialising in places like
discos.

He pointed out that it was difficult for parents like him to take
action against the perpetrators as they had no hard evidence.

But while parents might not know the identities of those involved in
drug dealing, it was important for families to be aware and to talk
about the issue so children would be able to say `no' if they were
offered illegal substances.

Mr Flood, who said there were now 4,000 drug addicts receiving
treatment in the greater Dublin area, sharply criticised people who
were holding up new rehab clinics because they did not want them in
their communities.

He said he was speaking as someone who had gone to a Bord Pleanala
hearing to say that a treatment centre should be established in his
own community Tallaght. Mr Flood admitted that he felt frustrated at
the delays being caused by objectors especially given that there were
still almost 500 people on the waiting list for treatment.

``If there is a drug problem in your area surely it is better to
ensure that treatment is provided than to deny treatment to those who
need it,'' said the minister.

``I would say quite frankly to people who are objecting that, while
they may not realise it today, who is to say when someone belonging to
them will need treatment.''

He stressed that considerable progress had been made with the
provision of 42 treatment centres in the greater Dublin area up from
one in 1988.

Eight more clinics are due to come on stream by the end of the year
but some are being held up by objections from locals.

There were now 478 people on the waiting list for treatment, down from
1,000 a year ago, and the minister said he hoped that help would be
available for all those needing it by the end of the year.

ALLOCATION

But treatment facilities were only one part of the response, he
conceded.

Another important aspect was now being addressed with the recent
allocation of pounds 25m for recreation facilities and the appointment
of 70 youth workers in at-risk areas, he said.

An additional pounds 10m was being spent on task forces with 300
education and awareness projects up and running, said the Junior
Minister at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.