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Pike, Brigid (2004) In brief. Drugnet Ireland, Issue 12, December 2004, p. 5.

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On 25 June the World Drug Report 2004 was released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It was released to coincide with International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking (26 June). The first volume covers market trends and provides in-depth trend analysis, and the second volume compiles detailed statistics on drug markets. http://www.unodc.org

On 26 Junea year-long campaign ‘Drugs: Treatment Works’ was launched by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It hopes to diminish the stigma attached to drug users by challenging the common misconception that ‘once a drug abuser, always a drug abuser’. Campaign materials are available on the UNODC website.http://www.unodc.org

 In June a Report on Alcohol Misuse by Young People was released by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. Among its 10 key recommendations, the Committee recommended a complete ban on all alcohol advertising within a three-year period, and a complete ban on all acknowledgement or credit for sponsorship of sports events, clubs or teams that cater for members under 25 years of age, by any area of the alcoholic drinks industry.

 In June MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society Ltd) released ‘Underage Drinking is Rarely Black and White’. The research found that half the country’s 16- and 17-year-olds are drinking alcohol ‘regularly’ and that domestic (at home) drinking by parents is a key influencer of their children. MEAS intends to use the research findings to inform the content and direction of its work in seeking solutions.

 In June the Safety, Health and Welfare Bill 2004 was published. The Bill requires an employee, at work, to ensure that he or she is not under the influence of an intoxicant [alcohol or drug, and any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol] to the extent that he or she endangers his or her own safety, health or welfare at work or that of any other person. It also requires an employee, if reasonably required by his or her employer, to submit to any appropriate, reasonable and proportionate tests by a competent person.http://www.oireachtas.ie 

 In June the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 was introduced in the Seanad, reforming the processes by which decisions are made about disbursements from the Fund. In 2003 the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board (DAFDB) published its first plan, covering the years 2003–05. The plan states that at least 40 per cent of total annual funding will be allocated to the area of economic and social disadvantage, and that, after the first year, not less than 50 per cent of the annual proportion allocated to economic and social disadvantage will be allocated to RAPID, CLÁR and drugs task forces.

 In July the British–Irish Council published a report on its work between 1999 and December 2003. The Irish government, with lead responsibility for drugs, reports on the work programme in relation to the drugs issue. The Northern Ireland Executive, with lead responsibility for transport, reports that it is considering the potential for taking forward work on driving and drug misuse within the Council. http://www.britishirishcouncil.org

 In July the Drug Treatment Centre Board (DTCB) published its annual report for 2003. New initiatives included piloting on-site hepatitis C treatment for hepatitis-C-positive attendees, and the development of dedicated, structured programmes for the growing number of clients who were presenting for treatment for cocaine use. http://www.addictionireland.ie

 In August Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) launched its annual report for 2003. It shows that the numbers of drug users attending their Health Promotion Unit continued to increase, up by 5 per cent on 2002, to 3,331. MQI’s strategic plan for 2004–2006 sets out its plans for the direct management of supported accommodation for homeless drug users, to meet the needs of homeless people and drug users in cities outside of Dublin, and to develop new innovative harm reduction services for homeless people and drug users.http://www.mqi.ie

 In September the Drug Awareness Programme (DAP) website, run by Crosscare, was awarded the Dublin Bus Inaugural Award for Serving the Community. The website offers on-the-spot confidential advice about drug problems. The website has already won the British Telecom Telephone Helpline Award 2003/04.

 On 4 October a conference on ‘Exploring Drug Issues Through Community Research’ saw the launch of four community research reports funded by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD). The launch was followed by a workshop on the principles and practice of community research. The four community research groups funded by the scheme were the Ballymun Youth Action Project (BYAP), the Kilbarrack Coast Community Programme (KCCP), Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) and the Tallaght Homeless Advice Unit (THAU). The reports will be discussed more fully in the next issue of Drugnet Ireland.

Item Type
Article
Publication Type
Irish-related, International, Open Access, Article
Drug Type
All substances
Issue Title
Issue 12, December 2004
Date
December 2004
Page Range
p. 5
Publisher
Health Research Board
Volume
Issue 12, December 2004
EndNote
Accession Number
HRB (Available)

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