16 November 2006
Dr. Henry: I welcome the Minister of State. He is correct that this is a difficult problem, internationally and domestically. We must keep a close eye on what effective initiatives are being taken in other countries to combat drug abuse as we try to put our own solutions together. I have always been fascinated by people who are keen to legalise drugs, which is a road I would not follow. A number of cities and towns in Holland, as an experiment, provide cafes where people can use small amounts of cannabis without fear of prosecution, but one of the most recent reports on this initiative states that because so many foreign drug addicts are travelling to Amsterdam, for example, the authorities have attempted to locate drugs cafes in towns along the German and Belgian border. They have been accused by the Belgian and German Governments of anti-social behaviour by trying to move their problem as close as possible to other countries.
Drug abuse is not being defeated on the international stage and it is particularly worrying that because the war is going so badly in Afghanistan owing to a lack of troops and a lack of improvement in the general conditions of the Afghan population, heroin production will be larger and better than ever this year. This is destined for the European and American markets.
Domestically, the Government is doing a great deal. It has managed to persuade a number of local communities, although not all, that it is better to locate drug treatment clinics in their localities rather than leaving drug addicts in their areas with nowhere to go for treatment. One of the first clinics was established in Baggot Street Hospital, near where I live. It has proven over time to be a great source of relief to me because when I received representations from people in which they appealed that a drug clinic should not be set up in their community, I was able to tell them truthfully that a drug clinic was open down the road from me and I found it addressed the issue gradually. Initially there were so few clinics that all the addicts from south Dublin attended the Baggot Street clinic but, gradually, the situation was brought under control. Society must accept that if we have such problems, we must deal with them. I visit Mountjoy Prison regularly and I regret prisoners are in what the governor described as the biggest methadone clinic in the country because many of those involved in crime are addicted to drugs.
The recent Dáil na nÓg report was interesting. The children who attended the Parliament in Croke Park sought mandatory education for parents and children about drugs. This highlights that they know drugs are a serious business and they want this message brought home to children and their parents. Education policy in this area must be examined because the State is not getting involved early enough. An Oasis report on drug awareness programmes stated second level schools will be required to put in place effective substance abuse policies. Unfortunately, this issue must also be addressed at primary level because too many children are coming into contact with drugs for the first time at primary school age.
Substance abuse policies must be put in place in primary schools. I know how difficult it can be to set up these school programmes. For example, parents may object. However, we should be strengthened by the fact that the children in Dáil na nÓg wanted mandatory education for parents and children. The Minister of State could quote that statement to any objectors. Owing to parents' objections, the Stay Safe programme has had problems and only operates in approximately 70% of schools. Parents should be told that this is a serious issue. Sometimes, the most out-of-touch parents believe that such programmes are not necessary. Perhaps we could try to work in this regard.
We must address the issue of providing young people with places where they are not exposed to drugs or drink. It is amazing how little they ask for. Examining the reports of the National Youth Council of Ireland and Dáil na nÓg, the main measures sought are safe and warm places where young people can make their own entertainment and where no alcohol or drugs are available. If this is what children want, investing as much money as we can to make facilities available to them would be worthwhile.
Senator Ó Murchú was right in his address of alcohol abuse among teenagers and youths. From national statistics, there is a good correlation between drink and drugs. Drink is frequently the gateway drug. It is the drug of choice in this country and we are one of its greatest consumers in the European Union. We should not believe that our example is not passed onto our children. The Dáil na nÓg participants wanted a greater restriction placed on the advertising of alcohol. Leaving aside the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, the Minister of State is pushing an open door.
While I cannot speak for the rest of the country, the Minister of State was right to state that cocaine has overtaken heroin in Dublin in terms of consumption. It is with horror that I listen to the many middle class people who believe that they are not on drugs if they take cocaine. This is a worrying development. Cocaine addiction is a serious physical and psychological issue and we have no idea of its effect on people's work, career prospects and so forth. It is depressing to learn that many people believe that cocaine is a good, clean drug, as was described to be by a woman in her 30s. I do not know what she thinks is a dirty drug.
Drugs are cheap. When one hears of the significant quantities seized and the drugs that get through, one wonders why the market has not collapsed. While there are many drugs around, only a certain number of people can buy them. Frequently, I am told of drugs that cost only €10. For this reason, I was not in favour of mandatory sentences for people with certain quantities of drugs found on them. Should we take the quantity as being valued at the top or the bottom end of the marketplace in downtown Dublin? It is not helpful and, unfortunately, circumstances change. I have met enough mules to know that people become involved in carrying drugs for the most appalling reasons, for example, blackmail. We would be wise to allow judges the freedom to address each issue.
A considerable number of people are addicted to prescription drugs. I became peripherally involved in a case. The Garda contacted me concerning prescriptions purportedly written on my prescription pad that had been handed into a few chemists. The telephone number was wrong, the prescriptions were not properly made out, my name did not list a degree and there were no addresses included for the people for whom the drugs were supposedly prescribed, but they managed to get the prescriptions cashed in several chemists. The pharmacies in question were not out of the way. We must ask pharmacists to be careful when scrutinising prescriptions.
Subsequently, the Garda explained that this is a common practice and that it is not difficult for addicts to order prescription pads which can be posted to them. Since that event several years ago, an effort has been made to address the issue of printers being fooled into sending prescription pads to people who are not doctors. We must keep a close eye on the prescription drugs situation.
While only a small number of cases have passed through the drug courts, the courts appear to be working well, a situation I hope will be promoted. Regarding the Criminal Court, the 2004 report on court statistics is interesting. Some 1,091 and 2,068 drug offences were dealt with in Dublin and Limerick, respectively. The Dublin figure includes Dún Laoghaire, Swords, Richmond and the Chancery Street Children's Court but excludes Kilmainham and Tallaght. Of the Dublin cases, 159 were dismissed and 341 were struck out, but I cannot work out why. The statistics give no explanation. Close to half the cases were either dismissed or struck out, but I do not know whether the people involved agreed to go into treatment, the evidence was not good enough or no one turned up. I would have liked to have found out more about this.
Some 69 people were sentenced to imprisonment. Unless they were big drug dealers, this was probably just as well because they become more enthusiastic when they go to prison and are presented with the opportunity to expand their network of drug suppliers. This is probably the right way to go about the matter. Some people were sentenced to suspended imprisonment and 149 were given fines. I hope the latter were not subsequently imprisoned because they failed to pay those fines.
From listening to the debate, the Minister of State has the support of all Senators in doing something about drug addiction. It is not a party political issue and anyone with good ideas should come forward.
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