The original guidelines, of which this document is an updated and revised version, were developed over a series of meetings and discussions by a Working Group drawn from 10 drugs workers involved in the Community Based Drugs Initiatives in the five Youth Work Ireland Member Youth Services in the South East: - Carlow Regional Youth Service, Ferns Diocesan Youth Service in Wexford (now FDYS Youth Work Ireland), Ossory Youth in Kilkenny, Tipperary Regional Youth Service and Waterford Regional Youth Service (now Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Service). The guidelines were developed via an extensive local consultation process involving staff, volunteers and young people from these local youth services. The document also underwent a national consultation process involving both internal and external agencies and was first published in 2004.

This document has been revised and updated following a consultation process with Member Youth Services. This document does not claim to have all the answers. Drug related legislation has frequently changed as have state services and structures over the past decade. It is a complex area and provides challenges and dilemmas for any worker faced with dealing with such issues on the ground. However, the document does endeavour to provide a framework for developing good practice in dealing with drug related issues on the ground and via the Appendices that are included provide the additional source materials, legal information and contacts required to respond in as effective a manner as is possible when faced with dealing with issues of drug use by young people.