RESULTS IN THE SUMMER OF HEROIN BLACKSPOTS STUDIES

The results of four studies into services for areas worst affected by
heroin should be available by the summer, according to the Minister of
State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Mr Chris Flood.

Three of the pilot projects, announced last week by the Government as part
of the #30 million young people's facilities and services fund, are in
Dublin. The fourth is in Togher, Co Cork.

The Dublin project areas are: the north-east inner city; the canal flat
complexes of St Michael's House, Dolphin House, St Teresa's Gardens and
Fatima Mansions; and Jobstown.

Speaking at the publication of the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI)
policy document on youth and drugs, Mr Flood said #750,000 earmarked in the
Budget would be spent on finding out what was needed in the areas.

The pilot projects would develop a "more focused and better co-ordinated
response by the statutory authorities to the needs of the communities".

He denied the #30 million allocation represented a U-turn in the
Government's position on funding for youth services. The funding was the
result of "deliberations" by the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion.

The president of the NYCI, Ms Jillian Hassett, said the announcement had
"given an important boost to organisations working against drugs." She said
strategies should "build on the experience and expertise of organisations
already working in this field" and they should have a strong youth
dimension.

The council policy on drugs opposes the legalisation of cannabis. It
recommends prevention measures, harm reduction strategies, drugs education
and involving youth organisations in anti-drugs initiatives.

Council vice-president Mr Malcolm Byrne said 40 per cent of young people
identified drugs as the most important social issue, "ahead of crime, ahead
of unemployment".

The chairman of the Ballymun Local Drugs Task Force, Mr Sean O Cionnaith,
said governments had tried to ringfence the drug problem in working-class
areas. "It's about attempting to tackle a problem which the politicians
ignored for years. If we're to be serious about saving people from drug
deaths, #30 million is a beginning. But it is only a beginning."