The function of each Task Force is to research, develop and implement, using a partnership approach, a coordinated, regionally-appropriate response to substance misuse. The Western Region Drugs Task Force (WRDTF) was set up to cover the counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

Shared Solutions, the WRDTF Strategic Plan, is the culmination of a lengthy series of discussions within the Task Force, as well as a consultation process with invited organisations conducted in late 2004. It also takes cognisance of a range of different regional and national policy documents, research reports and other literature. Therefore, we hope, it reflects the collective thinking of a large number of people.

The structure of Shared Solutions follows guidelines issued by the National Drugs Strategy Team, and takes as its main themes the 'four pillars' of the National Drug Strategy: Research, Prevention & Education, Treatment, and Supply Reduction. It also looks at important cross-cutting issues relating to social inclusion. Although at Government level the national alcohol and drugs strategies are managed separately, a policy decision was taken early on by the WRDTF to include alcohol in its deliberations. This decision reflects the reality that alcohol is the main problem drug nationally and regionally, and that the nature of substance misuse in our society does not necessarily follow lines neatly drawn by political, legal, social or institutional definitions.