YOUTH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION IS WORSENING

TEENAGE drug and alcohol addiction is getting worse with children as young
as eight dabbling in ecstasy and proscription drugs, the director of
Ireland's first treatment facility for adolescents warned yesterday.

Matt Talbot Adolescent Services has been treating teenagers with drug and
alcohol addictions since 1989 but they closed down last November due to a
lack of funds. Now the Department of Health has approved a new residential
treatment programme but Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has yet to
approve finance for the IEP1 million annual running costs.

Matt Talbot director of services Geraldine Ring said an immediate decision
on funding was vital: "We are inundated with requests from parents all over
the country. It is ironic that people from all over the world are coming to
us to learn about setting up similar centres to ours abroad and we have no
funding from the Government.

"The problem has got worse since we first opened in 1989. In the last ten
years they have begun using at a younger age. We have dealt with children
eight and nine years old. They would have been involved through their
families being involved in drug dealing. Children now are using anything
from glue to hash, ecstasy and on to drink. What's frightening me is that
the type of addiction is changing. Now it's like an arousal addict.

"Whereas kids before wanted to just chill out, now they are into getting up
there and searching out dangerous experiences, such as joyriding. They are
putting themselves more and more at risk," Ms Ring said.

The residential drug-treatment programme for out-of-control teenagers is
being sought by gardai, clergy and voluntary workers. Three Matt Talbot
buildings are available for use in Cork, but without funding the work can't
go ahead.

"Of the children that I know over the past 20 years, those who didn't get
treatment are either dead, in prison or in and out of psychiatric
institutions. Anyone who ever completed our programme is still sober.

About 60% complete the programme," Ms Ring said. Matt Talbot Services wants
to provide a comprehensive drug treatment programme for 30 male teenagers
aged 15 to 18 through a residential care centre. In addition to the drug
education programmes, and counselling, the group hopes to provide an
in-house schooling programme for youths, vocational training and work
experience.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said both the Department and the
Southern Health Board were supportive of the project and it would be
considered for funding in the estimates for 1999 in the light of available
resources at the time.

Checked-by: Don Beck