On 16 August 2005 the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) issued a warning that prolonged use of over-the-counter (OTC) medical products containing codeine may cause addiction. The IMB has instructed companies producing OTC codeine-containing medicinal products to amend the product information leaflets to state that there is a possibility of physical and psychological dependence associated with prolonged use of these products. Nurofen Plus and Solpadeine are examples of codeine-containing products. www.imb.ie

In September 2005 the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) published its 10-year strategy, A Place for Children. The culmination of two years’ work, the strategy seeks to improve the health, safety and learning of the children (aged 0 to 13) of Tallaght West and to increase their sense of belonging to their community.  Under the broad outcomes of improved health and safety, the strategy identifies as a ‘specific outcome’, that future cohorts of 12 and 13-year-olds transferring to secondary school will ‘be using fewer drugs, alcohol and other substances’. Activities to achieve this and the nine other specific outcomes listed in the strategy include early childhood care and education for all children; the integration of services in schools and in child and family centres; new services targeted at the identified needs of children; improving the quality of existing provision; and advocating for the reduction of major stresses on children and families.

On 6 October 2005 the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, introduced in the US Senate and Congress in May 2005, was the subject of a motion of support in Dáil Éireann. If adopted, the Act will open a route to legality for undocumented people living in the US, including Irish citizens (estimated to number anywhere between 5,000 and 50,000). During the Dáil debate, concern was expressed for the levels of stress experienced by these Irish citizens owing to their constant fear of detection, need for secretiveness and sense of isolation. Irish immigration centres in the US have reported a rise in stress-related problems and substance misuse among these clients, and are responding by developing in-house counselling services. The Irish government provides financial support for the Irish immigration centres. www.oireachtas.ie

On 11 October 2005 MEAS held its third 'Alcohol and Society' annual conference.  The theme was 'Alcohol and the Community'. The aims of the conference included encouraging informed debate on community-based alcohol initiatives and promoting best practice in regard to integrated, community-based alcohol initiatives.

On 17 October 2005 a Green Paper on Mental Health (COM [2005] 484 final) was adopted by the European Commission. The Green Paper forms the basis for a public consultation on how to tackle mental health and promote psychological well-being in the EU. Misuse of alcohol, drugs and other psychoactive substances is identified in the Green Paper as a risk factor for, or a consequence of, mental health problems, and preventive action in relation to alcohol and drugs misuse is proposed as one measure to improve the mental health of the European population. Comment on the Green Paper is invited by 31 May 2006.  http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/public_health/health_determinants_lifestyle/c11570c_en.htm

On 19 October 2005 the Independent Monitoring Commission released its seventh report. In relation to paramilitary groups and organised crime, the Commission concluded that because of paramilitary involvement, organised crime (including drug dealing) is the biggest long-term threat to the rule of law in Northern Ireland.

In October 2005 European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland launched its new website. The website carries a series of pages on policy issues relating to poverty, including drugs. EAPN Ireland is the Irish national network of the European Anti-Poverty Network, which links groups fighting for the eradication of poverty across the EU. The Irish network’s roles include empowering network members through information and training; policy development and advocacy in relation to the eradication of poverty at both national and EU level; and promoting networking between anti-poverty groups across the EU. http://www.eapn.ie/

In October 2005 the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) Annual Report 2004 was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Report states that 80% of the High Court orders obtained under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 during 2004 were directly connected to the proceeds of drug trafficking. The Report also notes that 2004 was the first year in which monies (€275,875.43), previously frozen by court orders under Section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996, were remitted to the Minister for Finance for the benefit of the central fund. In outlining new developments, the Report details how Action 9 of the National Drugs Strategy, ‘to target the assets of middle-ranking criminals involved in drug-dealing’, has been implemented. The CAB, along with the Garda National Drugs Unit, has trained one member of the Garda Síochána from each of the 25 Garda divisions as a divisional profiler in criminal assets. A course was delivered, in association with the Garda College, covering all areas of assets forfeiture. These divisional criminal assets profilers complement and enhance the CAB’s role in relation to identifying, tracing and seizing criminal assets of persons engaged in criminal conduct. www.justice.ie

In October 2005 the CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign publishedDrug Rehabilitation – A View from the Community. This report contains the results of a CityWide survey undertaken in July 2005 on the work of special Community Employment projects delivering drug rehabilitation programmes. It outlines the key elements of a model Drug Rehabilitation Service that is community-based, integrated, multi-agency and client-centred. www.citywide.ie