A new study, based on the experience of drug problems in three Dublin communities, has found that though there have been improvements, communities are still frightened and at risk of being overwhelmed by their drugs experience.
It has called for the development of a new set of indicators to identify emerging drug problems earlier so that they can be tackled more quickly.
Launched yesterday by the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Noel Ahern, the report, A Community Drugs Study: Developing Community Indicators for Problem Drug Use, was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD).
It looked at how the experience of drug use in Ballymun, Crumlin and Bray has changed since 1996.
Among the key findings was an increase in the number of children under 15 years staying in school and an increase in those completing the Leaving Cert.
The study also found that employment opportunities had increased and there were improved provisions for drug treatment and ancillary support services.
However, it found that alcohol misuse is having a major effect on communities and the use of drug combinations is undermining the successes of community responses. "There is a re-emergence of fear and a risk of communities feeling overwhelmed by their current drugs experience," the report said.
Mairéad Lyons, NACD director, said the development of community drugs indicators, which will identify drugs problems, is critical. "This will enable Government, agencies and services to respond to changing trends much more quickly."
