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 four pillas of the National Drug Strategy which are Supply Reduction, Prevention, Treatment and Research.

The National Drugs Strategy 2009 - 2016 The overall objective of the stategy is "To continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of suppy reduction; prevention; treatement; rehabilitation and research".

The new 'Irish National Drugs Strategy (Interim) 2009–16' was launched on 10 September 2009. In November 2009, in line with Action 1 of the new National Drugs Strategy, a Steering Group was established to develop proposals and make recommendations on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, that would combine illicit drugs and alcohol and incorporate the interim strategy. The Steering Group is due to submit its proposals to the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Drugs by the end of October 2010, after which the combined strategy is due to be presented to the Government for consideration.

The 2009–2016 (interim) Drugs Strategy is comprehensive and built on five pillars (supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research). It is constructed around a hierarchy of aims, objectives and key performance indicators, and comprises 63 different actions. The overall strategic aims of the new strategy are to create a safer society through the reduction of the supply and availability of drugs for illicit use; to minimise problem drug use throughout society; to provide appropriate and timely substance treatment and rehabilitation services (including harm reduction services) tailored to individual needs; to ensure the availability of accurate, timely, relevant and comparable data on the extent and nature of problem substance use in Ireland; and to have in place an efficient and effective framework for implementing the National Drugs Strategy 2009–16.

Clondalkin Local Drug Task Force

In order to achieve our goals, the Task Force relies on the work achieved 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.

The task force structure includes a management board and a number of working sub groups.

The managemnt board is made up of representative accross the sector of drug services and key stakeholders in the community.

The sub groups outlined below have represetaion from workers in local drug services for example senior project workers, co-ordinators and managers. 

Services represented include, CASP, Ronanstown Youth Service, Bawnogue Youth & Family Support. Station 1, Tower Programme, Clondalkin Partnership, FAS, Cairdeas, HSE, Local Employment Services, Youth Support & Training Unit, School Completion Officers, Catholic Youth Service, Carline Project, Clondalkin Travellers Development Group and members of the task force.

Education & Prevention Sub Committee

The work of the Drug Education Programme is carried out through the Drug Education sub –committee and theTtask Force Prevention Officers. 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 community volunteers / staff and interested people to deliver drug education to their peers.

What is Prevention

Drug prevention is one of the pillars in Ireland’s interim National Drugs Strategy 2009–2016 (NDS). The strategy states that ‘a tiered or graduated approach to prevention and education measures in relation to drugs and alcohol should be developed with a view to providing a framework for the future design and development of interventions’. It identifies three levels in this framework:

• Universal prevention programmes, aimed at the general population such as students in schools, to promote overall health of the population and to prevent the onset of drug and alcohol misuse. Measures often associated with this type of programme include awareness campaigns, school drug/alcohol education programmes and multi-component community initiatives;
• Selective prevention programmes, aimed at groups at risk, as well as subsets of the general population including children of drug users, early school leavers and those involved in anti-social behaviour, to reduce the effect of risk factors present in these subgroups by building on strengths and developing resilience and protective factors;
• Targeted prevention programmes, for people who have already started using drugs/alcohol, or who are likely/vulnerable to engage in problematic drug/alcohol use (but may not necessarily be drug/alcohol dependent), or to prevent relapse. These programmes are aimed at individuals or small groups and address specific needs.

In Ireland, young people and their families are the main target groups for drug prevention activities, which consist mainly of universal and selective prevention, with little focus on targeted prevention.

The NDS identifies as priorities for Prevention improving the delivery of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme in primary and post-primary schools and co-ordinating the activities and funding of youth interventions in out-of-school settings to optimise their impacts. Drug prevention interventions in schools are delivered through the Walk Tall (primary schools) and the SPHE (post-primary schools) programmes. The SPHE programme aims to improve social and personal competencies in students so they can understand and counter the many social influences that are seen as contributing to their use of drugs and alcohol. In the community, prevention programmes are provided in different settings, such as youth clubs and youth cafes, and by means of diversion activities provided by the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

The NDS calls for a continued focus on orienting educational and youth services towards early interventions for people and communities most at risk. Actions are being developed to support the families of drugs users, and community development is acknowledged as an important step in building the capacity of local communities to avoid, or respond to and cope with, drug problems. Early school leavers are targeted through measures such as the School Completion Programme and embedding the government’s DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Action Plan, which tackles disadvantage among the school-going population in LDTF areas. The Department of Education and Science has also developed a strategy to tackle educational disadvantage and early school leaving in the Traveller community.

Stand-alone mass media awareness and information campaigns are regarded as less effective than multi-component, multi-level interventions that reflect the complex nature of drug prevention and harm reduction. The NDS proposes that preference be given to the development of timely awareness campaigns targeted in a way that takes individual, social and environmental conditions into account in key areas such as third-level institutions, workplaces, sports and other community and voluntary organisations.

In 2007, the Department of Education and Science found that 95 % of primary schools and 96.3 % of post-secondary schools in Local Drug Task Force areas, where the prevalence of drug use is high, reported having a substance use policy in place. Quality standards with practical information on best practice in substance use education in Ireland have been published as a manual. It is based on a substantial review of international research and provides guidelines for the development and enhancement of substance use education in school, youth work and community-based settings.

top of page

Problem Drug Use Statistics in Ireland

In 2006, the total number of opiate users was estimated to be 7.2 opiate users per 1 000 population, aged 15–64 (20 790 individuals). The estimated rate for Dublin in 2006 was 17.6 users per 1 000 inhabitants, aged 15–64 (14 904 users). For the rest of Ireland, the estimated rate in 2006 was 2.9 users per 1 000 inhabitants, aged 15–64. This study included both injecting and non-injecting opiate users.

The EMCDDA defines problem drug use as intravenous drug use (IDU) or long duration/regular drug use of opiates, cocaine and/or amphetamines. Ecstasy and cannabis are not included in this category.

top of page

Treatment Demand in Ireland

Treatment demand data are collected from agencies in Ireland which report to the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS). The system collects data from outpatient, inpatient, low threshold methadone maintenance units, crisis counselling units and general practitioners in Ireland. In 2008, a total of 495 treatment services reported to the NDTRS out of the 579 treatment centres.

In 2008, a total of 6 387 clients entered treatment, of whom 2 774 entered treatment for the first time. Data regarding all treatment clients suggests that 64.2 % of all clients entering treatment reported that an opiate was the primary drug, followed by 18.3 % for cannabis and 11.7 % for cocaine. Among new treatment clients, a similar distribution was identified with 45.1 % for opiates, followed by 30.8 % for cannabis and 16.5 % for cocaine.

In 2008, 34 % of all clients entering treatment were aged less than 25 years. A higher percentage in age distribution was reported among clients entering treatment for the first time, with 47 % under the age of 25 years. In 2008, the proportion of males to females for all clients entering treatment was 74 % for male and 26 % for female. A similar gender ratio was also reported among clients entering treatment for the first time, with 76 % for male and 24 % for female.

top of page

Drug-related Infectious Diseases in Ireland

Data from the Health Promotion Surveillance Centre (HPSC) indicate that in 2008, 36 newly diagnosed cases of HIV among injecting drug users were reported, indicating a decrease when the number is compared with the previous year (54 newly diagnosed cases in 2007).

According to the data from HPSC, there were 1 537 cases of hepatitis C reported in 2008, compared to 1 556 cases in 2007. The results of blood-borne viral prevalence studies indicate that around 70 % of injecting drug users attending drug treatment tested positive for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. High-risk injecting practices and increased time spent in prison have been associated with a positive hepatitis C status among injecting drug users in Ireland.

top of page

Drug-related Deaths in Ireland

Direct-drug-related deaths are those occurring as a result of overdose.

For the first time in 2007, Ireland was able to provide data for Selection D. The number of cases in Selection D has fluctuated between 1998 (104 cases) and 2003 (107 cases); however, since 2003 the number of cases (mainly due to cocaine and/or poly-substances including an opiate) has risen from 107 cases to 159 cases in 2005 to 185 cases in 2007. Almost four-fifths of cases were male (79.5 %) and the mean age was 32.1 years.

top of page

Treatment Responses in Ireland

In Ireland, the Department of Health and Children is responsible for developing and reviewing drug treatment policy and strategy, while the Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for implementing this treatment strategy. Drug treatment is provided through four HSE regions and 32 local health offices. On 1 January 2005, the 10 health boards managing the health services in Ireland were replaced by a single entity, the Health Service Executive (HSE), which manages Ireland’s public health sector. The management of all addiction services falls under the remit of ‘Primary, community and continuing care’, who oversees a number of national care groups. Funding for treatment is generally provided by the statutory sector through the Health Service Executive, however, in some cases individuals are obliged to contribute to the cost of drug treatment (excluding methadone maintenance treatment) usually through private medical care plans.

Treatment is provided through a network of statutory and non-statutory agencies. Medication-assisted treatment includes opiate detoxification and substitution therapies, alcohol and benzodiazepine detoxification, and psychiatric treatment. Various types of counselling are provided through both philosophies of treatment and independent of either type of treatment. Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, are provided through both statutory and community projects in Dublin. Furthermore, pregnant female opiate users and their partners are entitled to immediate access to treatment. There are also specific initiatives available for drug users under the age of 18 years. These include psychiatric therapy, family therapy, specially adapted medication free therapy and guidelines around the use of medication. The total number of drug treatment services available in Ireland showed a strong increase between 1998 and 2004 with the largest expansion in the outpatient sector.

Three inpatient units and a number of outpatient treatment centres provide detoxification for problem opiate users and treatment centres, satellite clinics and specialised general practitioners provide substitution treatment. Methadone, introduced in 1992, is the most commonly-used agent for opiate detoxification and substitution treatment. Buprenorphine has been introduced in 2002 and the buprenorphine/naloxone combination in 2007. However, almost all clients in opioid substitution treatment receive methadone with a total of 10 213 clients in 2008.

top of page

Harm reduction Responses in Ireland

Needle and syringe exchange services were first provided in Ireland in 1989, when five exchanges were established. There are now 34 exchanges in the country, operating three models of service: fixed-site exchanges, home visit exchanges, and exchanges in public locations. The 31 services provided exchanges at fixed sites (28), on home visits (3) and in public locations (2); two services provided exchanges in two settings. Of the 31 services, 20 provided services in urban locations, 12 in inner city locations and three in rural locations; some services operated in more than one location. The latest estimate (2007) indicates that nearly 1.1 million syringes were distributed through needle exchange programmes.

Services provided a range of sterile injecting equipment and materials. All 31 services provided different sizes and types of needle and syringe, as well as alcohol swabs and citric or acetic acid. All services also provided condoms. Thirty services provided stericups or cookers and sterile water; 28 provided non-toxic foil (for smoking heroin); eleven provided syringe identifiers; and seven provided tourniquets. No service provided single-use injecting packs, crack pipes or straws.

In Ireland, the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for several high-risk groups. Prisoners and injecting drug users are two of the high-risk groups. A national hepatitis C working group, established in early 2007, has examined how the country can respond to hepatitis C in the areas of surveillance, education and treatment. The experts’ recommendations were presented to HSE senior management in 2008.

On 9 August 2005, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children introduced a new statutory instrument known as ‘the Medical Products (prescription and control of supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2005’. This permits the supply and administration of a number of medicinal products (including naloxone, for the management of respiratory depression secondary to a known or suspected narcotic overdose) by pre-hospital emergency care providers in specific conditions.

top of page

Drug Markets and Drug-Related Offences in Ireland

The main source of information on Irish drug offences is the Annual report of An Garda Siochana (the Irish police) up to 2006 and the Central Statistics Office since. The reports contain information on the number and quantity of drug seizures made by the Garda Siochana and the Irish Customs Drug Law Enforcement.

Over the past five years, the number of cocaine seizures has shown a strong upward trend, increasing from 300 seizures in 2001 to 1 749 in 2007. The volume of cocaine seized has increased steadily since 2001, increasing from 5 kg in 2001 to 1 752 kg in 2007. The number of heroin seizures increased from 209 in 1995 to a peak of 1 698 in 2007. The volume of heroin seized has fluctuated from year to year. Between 1995 and 2007, the volume of heroin seized increased significantly from 6 kg to 147 kg in 2007.

The vast majority of drug-related offences reported in the Garda annual reports come under one of three sections of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977: Section 3 — possession of any controlled drug without due authorisation; Section 15 — possession of a controlled drug for the purpose of unlawful sale or supply; and Section 21 — obstructing the lawful exercise of a power conferred by the Act. Other offences regularly reported relate to the unlawful importation into the State of controlled drugs contrary to Section 21; permitting one’s premises to be used for drug supply or use contrary to Section 19; the use of forged prescriptions (Section 18); and the cultivation of cannabis plants (Section 17). Data complied by the Irish Central Statistics Office regarding drug-related offences in 2007 reported that there were a total of 18 646 drug-related offences. Out of which, 51.4 % were cannabis related offences, followed by 17.5 % of heroin, 16.2 % of cocaine and 10.1 ecstasy related offences.

top of page

Ireland's Drug Laws

Possession of any controlled substance without due authorisation is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984. The drugs to which the acts apply are listed in the schedules to the acts, together with some generic definitions of families of substances. The legislation makes a distinction between possession for personal use and possession for sale or supply. Penalties for possession for personal use depend on the type of drug (cannabis or other drugs) and on the penal proceedings, i.e. whether a summary conviction or a conviction on indictment. Possession of cannabis or cannabis resin for personal use is punishable by a fine on first or second conviction but from a third offence onwards it incurs a fine and/or a term of imprisonment up to one year for summary conviction and up to three years for conviction on indictment. Possession in any other case incurs a penalty of imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine on summary conviction and up to seven years on conviction on indictment. With regards to drug trafficking, the law establishes different penalties according to the type of offender, the type of drugs and the quantity. Possession for sale or supply attracts penalties up to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for the possession of drugs with a market value of at least EUR 12 700.

Since 31 January 2006, any kind of fungus which contains psilocin or an ester of psilocin is a controlled drug under the Act. The Criminal Justice Act 2006 included:

• criminal offences in relation to participation in criminal organisations;
• strengthened provisions on the imposition of the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for drug trafficking;
• new offences of supplying drugs to prisoners;
• provisions in relation to a Drug Offenders Register;
• new provisions to deal with anti-social behaviour, such as anti-social behaviour orders.

Following a review of the Drug Treatment Court by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, it has been decided that the Court will continue in operation for at least a further two years so that a number of improvements identified in the review can be implemented. It is hoped that by this time the number of participants participating in the Drug Court programme can be substantially increased.

top of page

National Drug Strategy 2009-2016

The new 'Irish National Drugs Strategy (Interim) 2009–16' was launched on 10 September 2009. In November 2009, in line with Action 1 of the new National Drugs Strategy, a Steering Group was established to develop proposals and make recommendations on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, that would combine illicit drugs and alcohol and incorporate the interim strategy. The Steering Group is due to submit its proposals to the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Drugs by the end of October 2010, after which the combined strategy is due to be presented to the Government for consideration.

The 2009–2016 (interim) Drugs Strategy is comprehensive and built on five pillars (supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research). It is constructed around a hierarchy of aims, objectives and key performance indicators, and comprises 63 different actions. The overall strategic aims of the new strategy are to create a safer society through the reduction of the supply and availability of drugs for illicit use; to minimise problem drug use throughout society; to provide appropriate and timely substance treatment and rehabilitation services (including harm reduction services) tailored to individual needs; to ensure the availability of accurate, timely, relevant and comparable data on the extent and nature of problem substance use in Ireland; and to have in place an efficient and effective framework for implementing the National Drugs Strategy 2009–16.

top of page

Coordination Mechanism in the Field of Drugs in Ireland

The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration (CCSICI) is chaired by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and composed of government ministers and ministers of state with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. Among other things, it reviews trends in problem drug use; assesses progress in implementing the national drugs strategy; and resolves policy or organisational difficulties.

The Office of the Minister for Drugs (OMD) is responsible for national coordination of the national drugs strategy, policy development, supporting the work of drugs task forces, supporting the work of the NACD, supporting the community and voluntary sectors, and coordinating Ireland’s input to the EU, UN and other international for a regarding the drugs issue.

Two mechanisms have been established within the OMD, to support the integrative role of the Minister for Drugs:

• a Drugs Advisory Group (DAG), comprising representatives of the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, advises the Minister on operational and policy matters relating to the national drugs strategy; and
• twice-yearly bilateral meetings are held between the Minister for Drugs and the ministers for Justice, Education and Health, and between the Minister for Drugs and the Director of the OMD and:
  • the heads of departments and state agencies involved in implementing the national drugs strategy;
  • the chairs and coordinators of the regional and local drugs task forces;
  • the National Advisory Committee; and
  • the Family Support Network.

The Oversight Forum on Drugs (OFD) is chaired by the Minister for Drugs and comprises officials of government departments with responsibility for implementing the national drugs strategy, together with representatives of state agencies and of the voluntary and community sectors. Its primary role is the high-level monitoring of progress being achieved across the strategy and agreeing appropriate ways forward where issues are blocked or progress is being impeded. It also provides a forum for discussion and feedback on issues relating to problem drug use that arise in EU and international arenas.

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) advises the government in relation to prevalence, prevention, treatment/rehabilitation and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland based on its analysis of research findings and information available to it. It is co-located with the OMD and the Director of the NACD is a member of the senior management team in the OMD.

Ten regional drugs task forces (RDTFs) bring together all the statutory agencies as well as the voluntary and community sectors. Their role is to develop a coordinated response to drug misuse at regional through the development of a single, integrated plan. Fourteen local drugs task forces (LDTFs) in Dublin, Cork and Wicklow, a partnership between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, are established in the areas experiencing the worst levels of opiate misuse to develop local action plans. The DTFs report to the OMD for all activities, outputs and expenditures.

top of page

Drug-related Research in Ireland

Research is one of the four pillars of Ireland’s national drug strategy, and has two main objectives: to make data available on the extent of drug misuse amongst all marginalised groups; and to gain greater understanding of the factors which contribute to the misuse of drugs. The areas of prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of problem drug use were listed as priorities and account for most of the main projects in this area. Funding is mainly made available by governmental sources, while research in this area is mainly undertaken by the national focal point, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, and some university departments. The national focal point coordinates two main reporting systems, a documentation centre, a newsletter and a website where a database on research projects is available. Several national scientific journals contribute to disseminating drug-related research findings. Recent drug-related studies mentioned in the 2009 Irish National report mainly focused on aspects related to responses to the drug situation and on prevalence of drug use.

top of page

Treatment & 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.
• Development of strategies and programmes for drug users.

Supply & 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 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.