O'DONOGHUE RULES OUT DECRIMINALISING DRUGS

JUSTICE Minister John O'Donoghue yesterday firmly ruled out any move
towards decriminalising drugs declaring it should not happen in any
circumstances.

The Minister was commenting after the National Crime Forum said it would be
happy to see the issue discussed in a calm and dispassionate manner.

Mr O'Donoghue, who was presented with a copy of the Forum's report, said
the document did not come down on one side or the other on the question of
decriminalisation.

AGAINST

But he said that he personally was against the decriminalisation of
controlled substances, and would not go along with the idea.

The Forum said it had received submissions for and against the
decriminalisation of some or all drugs. Those who advocated such a course
did so out of a conviction that it was the very illegality of certain drugs
which gave rise to many of the problems arising from them.

However, those opposed to the notion said the move would encourage the use
of drugs at a time when the need was to discourage it.

While most of the Forum members were open to persuasion on the subject,
they did not have an opportunity to undertake the necessary study in depth
which would enable them to reach an informed judgment.

"All agreed, however, that the issue was important and required careful
study. It is anticipated that this matter will be more fully debated and
the Forum would be happy to see the issues discussed in a calm and
dispassionate manner."

Dealing with drugs and crime the report says that there was considerable
and understandable public concern at the damage which the recent growth in
drug abuse was doing.

Those addicted to the use of opiates were tied into a habit which could
conservatively be estimated to cost them IEP500 - IEP700 a week to maintain.

"Since many of those in that situation are young people with minimal means,
that cost inevitably drives them to criminal activity to find the money."

An enormous task remained to identify those most at risk of becoming
involved in drugs and crime, targeting them with a strategy of prevention
and early intervention and establishing the necessary treatment facilities
at community level.

The report says that perhaps the greatest disquiet related to what was
perceived, correctly or incorrectly, as a lack of response in terms of
Garda arrests and prosecutions. There was, however, widespread agreement
that the gardai were doing an enormous amount of good work, both in
enforcing the law and diverting young people from a life of drug-related
crime.

THREE MEASURES

It was evident that any comprehensive approach to tackling the problem
involved three measures limitation of the supply, reduction of the demand
and treatment for those who became involved with drug use.

"The public is favourably disposed towards a firm policy on bringing drug
dealers to justice indeed, the public expects it. Quite authoritarian
measures are deemed acceptable in an effort to combat what is perceived as
the social blight of drugs."

The biggest single contribution to reducing the scourge of drugs would be
an effective drive to remove social and economic disadvantage within
certain communities.

Partnership approaches involving the community, local authorities, health
boards, gardai, youth services and other agencies were strongly advocated
in submissions.

Checked-by: derek rea