The Clondalkin Local Drugs Task Force was established in 1997. The function of the Task Force is to research, develop and implement, using a partnership approach, a coordinated, locally appropriate response to substance misuse..

Our overall aim is to significantly reduce the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concentrated focus on supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research.

The National Drugs Strategy 2001 – 2008 was launched with the overall objective being, “To significantly reduce the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on supply reduction, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and research”.

In order to achieve our goals, the Task Force relies on the work accomplished by agencies and community groups who give of their time and dedication to sitting on committees and sub groups, developing policies and giving valuable input into how resources are allocated. The Clondalkin Local Drugs Task Force has three sub groups at present assisting with the local implementation of the National Drugs Strategy.

Education and Prevention Sub Committee

The work of the Drug Education Programme is carried out through the Drug Education sub –committee, Drug Education Co-ordinator and the Drugs Education Worker. The focus of the work is both community and school based.

The objective of the education prevention team is to create greater awareness about the dangers and prevalence of drug misuse.

The education team is committed to assisting the development of comprehensive substance misuse programmes and policies in all schools and work to help highlight the ‘Walk Tall’ and ‘On my Own Two Feet’ programmes and assist in the delivery of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE).

We also facilitate the School Drug Co-ordinators Committee in order to develop organised links and networks with schools to facilitate schools in availing of training and resources.

A range of education / training programmes are provided for example:

• Parents Programmes: to raise awareness of the effects of addiction on the individual, the family and community through the delivery of a range of need based drug and health education programmes.
• Peer Education Training Programme: to raise awareness of the effects of addiction on the individual, family and community; and to train young people to deliver drug education to their peers.
• We facilitate the Community Addiction Studies Course: to develop the skills and knowledge of local people to become more effective in responding to drug misuse within their community at a family level through the delivery of Fetac Level V Urrus Community Addiction Studies Course.

We also provide funding under the following headings:

Community Training Fund:
To provide financial assistance to enable people living or working in Clondalkin to access short term courses and conferences related to addiction.

Drug Project Training Fund:
To financially support staff of locally based drug projects working with drug users, to access further training with the aim of further developing their skills to support them in their role

In-service Training Fund:
To financially support staff of locally based projects with ‘at risk’ groups, to access further training with the aim of further developing their skills to support them in their role

Bursary Fund:
To provide financial assistance to enable local people to access short term and 3rd level training courses related to addiction.

Treatment and Rehabilitation Sub-Committee

The Treatment and Rehabilitation Sub Group exists to encourage and enable those dependant on drugs to avail of treatment with the aim of reducing dependency and improving overall health and social well being, with the ultimate aim of leading a drug free lifestyle. The goals of the group are;

• To provide information and support to those wishing to access professional rehabilitation services. This includes making available a bursary fund for those in financial difficulty wishing to access services.
• The group provides stabilized drug misusers with training and employment opportunities as part of the client’s rehabilitation.

Supply and Control Sub Committee

The aims of this group are to look at ways to reduce the volume of illicit drugs available in Ireland and to reduce access to all drugs. The group works with the Garda, County Council, project staff and community members to raise local concerns and highlight the needs of a particular neighborhood.

The functions of the Local Drugs Task Force - [Download in pdf format]

The following seven functions have been identified by the NDST to further enhance the role of the LDTFs going forward, complementing their original function "to develop and implement a drugs strategy for their areas which co-ordinates all relevant programmes and addresses any gaps in services" (Local Drugs Task Force Operating Handbook) and taking into account the recommendations in the NDST mainstreaming document:

FUNCTION 1:
Information gathering and dissemination: Overall responsibility for ensuring that an appropriate level of accurate and timely information on drugs misuse is available, identifying emerging needs among drug users in their community, early identification of emerging trends & issues and reporting back to the NDST.

FUNCTION 2:
Strategic and policy development: Maintaining a strategic overview of service provision ensuring they have a positive and focused impact on tackling drugs misuse (a) to ensure the efficacy of such services (b) to seek to influence policy through the NDST-IDG, and the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion.

FUNCTION 3:
Development of Local Plans: Adopting a pro-active role in developing and revising quality proposals to address gaps in services

FUNCTION 4:
Evaluation: Engaging both in strategy review and project evaluation processes, in conjunction with the NDST.

FUNCTION 5:
Implementation and monitoring of plans: Maintaining ongoing contacts with projects through monitoring and support of projects pre and post mainstreaming with this to be specified in service agreements. To mediate, where necessary, if problems arise between the project promoters and agency.

FUNCTION 6:
Training and support: Where needed, to facilitate the provision of technical support to management committees and staff of individual projects to meet their service agreement requirements e.g. arranging access to training.

FUNCTION 7:
Networking: To foster and build linkages with agencies and groups focused on supporting drug users to integrate them into society by enhancing education, housing, social supports and labour market opportunities.