RINGSEND AND DISTRICT RESPONSE TO DRUGS

Friday March 5 saw the launch of the Ringsend & District Response to
Drugs (RDRD) annual report and a special graduation
presentation.

Set up in January 1997, the group produced a work programme which
became their submission for funding. Having received IEP119,000 from
the South Inner City Local Drugs Task Force, the group then formed
itself into a limited company. It now has offices and four people
working full time.

Their annual report charts their success over the last year and
details events such as European Drug Awareness Week where they ensured
the community as a whole was involved in events which took place, such
as competitions and theatre.

RDRD operate a family support service, outreach services, education
and prevention and advice and support.

As a result of this they have 22 addicts in contact with RDRD, are
working with 22 families and have 5 clients who are completely drug
free.

It was these five clients who were awarded special plaques to honour
their achievement on March 5 and in his presentation speech Minister
Chris Flood described the five as “the single most important element
of the night” and he paid tribute to outreach workers from the project
Teresa Weafer and Paul Meleady.

The evening was sponsored by Dublin Port as a mark of their support
and commitment to the work of RDRD.

Also present at the event were members of the Drugs Task Force, who
over the last three years have worked with voluntary and statutory
agencies to address the problem of drug abuse in Dublin. The Task
Force commended the work of Ringsend & District Response to Drugs and
stressed that maintainance and harm reduction cuts off the potential
addicts have. The recovery and rehabilitation aspect achieves so much
more.

It was this aspect of the RDRD's work that local Sinn Fein
representative Daithi Doolan praised saying, “this is what can be
achieved when state bodies work with communities.

“Communities need to stick together and fight,” Doolan said before
adding, “this whole night is a statement of our commitment to a drug
free area, it's reaping the benefits of three and a half years of hard
work. Those who graduated have made it all worthwhile.”

Ringsend & District Response to Drugs hope to make this special
graduation an annual event.