Community plan to tackle cocaine abuse
A number of pilot treatment programmes are to be set up in communities around the country to tackle the escalating problem of cocaine abuse, it emerged today.
Noel Ahern, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, said funding amounting to almost €400,000 would be provided to help tackle drug abuse.
“There is little doubt that the rise in cocaine use poses serious challenges for all those involved in delivering drugs services on the ground,” Mr Ahern said.
“The proposals being funded will concentrate on the three areas of training, education and treatment.”
Research from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs showed cocaine was used most among 15 to 24-year-olds and a survey showed around 3% of the adult population had reported taking the drug.
Almost €300,000 of the funding is to be spent on running four pilot treatment interventions to work with intravenous cocaine users, those who snort the drug and female users.
Over €80,000 will be spent on training staff in community groups and state agencies who deal with cocaine users.
Mr Ahern said that the perception that cocaine was a “safe” drug needed to be addressed with the high levels of risk associated with injecting, sharing drug equipment and combining it with other stimulants or alcohol.
He said €10,000 had been earmarked for producing education material highlighting the dangers associated with cocaine use.
“It is my intention that all aspects of the interventions would be comprehensively evaluated and that the lessons emerging will be made widely available,” he said.
Mr Ahern, who is Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, said the funding would build on the work already being carried out by many community based projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas.
He said the new initiatives would be put in place as soon as possible, with the treatment programmes around the country running over a three to nine-month period.
