DRUGS AWARENESS

There was never going to be a simple solution to resolve the drugs
problem, as the events of the European Drugs Prevention Week are
already making clear. The prevention of drug abuse has to be a
component part of social programmes, school curricula, anti-crime
activities, the provision of recreational facilities, parenting
support programmes, and (in areas and communities devastated by the
results of drug addiction) almost every programme and activity
undertaken. The most prevalent forms of substance abuse - alcohol and
tobacco consumption - have not yet been satisfactorily dealt with in
this State, and still cause huge numbers of deaths and much human
misery each year. Small wonder, then, that the abuse of other
dangerously addictive substances such as heroin has run riot in
various (largely urban) areas of the State.

There are signs, however, that some progress can be made towards the
elimination of drug abuse. The Criminal Assets Bureau has been
strikingly impressive in sequestering the proceeds of major criminal
drug dealing activities. The more recent Operation Cleanstreets is
proving effective in identifying local smaller drug-dealers. Thus, in
the control of crime, anti-drugs measures seem to be getting more
effective, at least in dealing with the supply side of the problem.
But the demand side is more complex and more difficult to deal with
and here a great variety of social interventions is required.

It has taken some time to recognise the value of involving local
communities directly in preventive activities but positive local
involvement is now being seen as an essential component of many
preventive measures, gaining support for local treatment programmes
for the addicts and providing assistance to the families immediately
affected by a drug-abusing family member. It hardly needs to be said
that there should be no place in local community support organisations
for the kind of vigilante activities that occurred in some city
streets and housing estates some years ago: effective drugs-prevention
programmes must be a great deal more positive than that.

There is still much progress to be made in the provision of a living
environment in which individuals can find some measure of self-esteem
and escape the alienation and isolation which too often characterise
the person who would become a drug-abuser.

Recommendations have been made for the provision of sporting and other
recreational facilities in areas where drug abuse is rife or is likely
to become so, but there is little sign of the necessary implementation
of these recommendations. And while progress has been made locally in
the setting up of anti-drugs teams and treatment facilities, there is
still a great deal more to be done in this regard.

Unquestionably, people are becoming more aware of the nature and
complexity of the drugs problem. Harm-reduction programmes are slowly
emerging in an effort to protect drug-takers from the more lethal
aspects of their activities. Treatment programmes to get addiction
under control and, hopefully, the addict into a drug-free existence
still need to be more prevalent and more effective. Yet there are
signs that despair may be eroded by hope as people and communities
become more aware of the reality of drug abuse and how to tackle it
more successfully. In this, the current week of increasing awareness
of the realities of the problem of drugs can only be of benefit.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry