15. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a public health awareness campaign around cocaine use and its adverse effects will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40650/23]

My question is about the availability of cocaine, the habit of the consumption of cocaine that has almost been normalised in recent years and creating awareness of its health implications. Quite frankly, I do not think the current policy is working because of the popularity of cocaine and how common cocaine use is. We need to do things differently.

Deputy Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As the Deputy will be aware, cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug which can make people feel more alert, energetic and confident. Cocaine can cause a range of acute health-related problems and even sudden death. It is highly risky for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Even perfectly healthy young people can have a fit or heart attack after consuming too much cocaine. Repeated sniffing of cocaine powder irritates the nose and can cause a breakdown of nasal cartilage.

Less than 7% of the population has ever used cocaine in their lifetime. Some 2% of the population has used cocaine in the past year. In 2022, 4,084 cases were treated for cocaine use. That is an increase of 800 or 26% on 2021. Cocaine accounts for 34% of all drug treatment cases.

In partnership with the Ana Liffey Drug Project, the HSE has developed a harm reduction campaign focusing on the dangers of cocaine at www.drugs.ie. The campaign - Cocaine: Drug and Alcohol Information and Support in Ireland - seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of using both powder cocaine and crack cocaine and to reduce the harms associated with the use of the drug. In 2023, the HSE has partnered with a number of festivals to put in place the Safer Nightlife harm reduction programme. This multi-component campaign involves outreach at festivals, back-of-house drug checking, media awareness and a social media campaign.

Drug prevention and education is a cornerstone of the national drugs strategy. I recently launched a €1.5 million drug education funding scheme, which supports evidence-based initiatives that engage with people who may be at risk of using drugs in a variety of contexts. I also recently announced funding of €500,000 to expand cocaine services. Enhancing access to drug services in the community and increasing awareness of the harms associated with drug use are a priority under the national drugs strategy. This demonstrates my commitment to a health-led response to drug use. We need to increase that funding and keep developing the education programme.

Deputy Brendan Griffin: The question is perhaps timely as we are running into the budgetary cycle. I do not see in mainstream media and across the board the type of awareness campaigns this problem needs. I acknowledge the figures the Minister of State has quoted. Certainly among some demographics, I think the figures are far worse than those she has quoted. Among our younger population, this is something that needs to be addressed. The short-term, medium-term and long-term consequences of cocaine use and abuse in some circumstances - to be honest, I think any use is abuse - need to be a serious issue on the agenda. In my day, back in the 1990s and 2000s, when people were out after a few drinks, they might go to the top shelf if they were taking things a bit further. It seems that cocaine has now gazumped all other types of behaviour and is now the accepted normal drug of choice. That is extremely worrying. I see much more in the media about vaping, for example, than about cocaine and that needs to be addressed.

Deputy Hildegarde Naughton: The work of the citizens' assembly is timely. It will report at the end of the year. It is important that we have an open and honest conversation about drug use.

I have allocated €1.5 million for an education programme. It is the first time funding has ever been allocated to that and I want to expand on it. We have allocated €130 million to the HSE for addiction services. Again, I want to increase that. Education and an open, honest conversation are needed. It is not only those who are in addiction and going into the vicious circle of the criminal justice system who use cocaine. Some people take drugs on a Friday or Saturday night because they enjoy them. We need to raise awareness around the health and safety impacts of that. 

I recently attended the Electric Picnic with Professor Eamon Keenan and his team to raise awareness at the festival and help young people. It is key to know what are the emerging drugs coming into the country as they change all the time. It is important to raise awareness and inform people who may have a medical incident or who are worried about a friend so that they have somewhere to go. I absolutely agree with the Deputy's point about raising awareness of this issue.

Deputy Brendan Griffin: All forms of substance abuse, whether it is the top shelf I referred to earlier or drugs, must be called out. What worries me most is the normalisation of cocaine use we have seen in recent years. Speaking to young people in my constituency, it is accepted among some people that this is what is done at the weekend on a Friday or Saturday night. That is bonkers to me as someone who is only 20 years ahead of them in the life cycle. How have things changed so rapidly and drastically in that time? Certainly, when I was that age, the idea that using cocaine recreationally might be normal was completely off the charts but it is now accepted as normal and it is a ticking time bomb. There are huge implications in the long and short term. We need to do more. A massive awareness campaign is needed nationally about this.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú: I agree with what has already been said. The fact is that when we talk about cocaine, we are dealing with a cocaine pandemic. The place is absolutely littered with it. Deputy Griffin is correct when he uses the term "normalised". Some young people who are involved in sport prefer to take cocaine than alcohol. Others think cocaine is the means by which they can continue to drink for three days in a slightly more presentable way. We all know the outworkings and what happens. We know that some people will run into serious issues long before health issues arise. There will be a knock on the door and the rest of it. We need to ensure there is information. We also need to look at addiction services and harm reduction. I was at a joint policing committee meeting recently. Drug dealing is happening on every street. We know that this cannot be policed out. We all welcome that the citizens' assembly is finally up and running and want to see what will come from it.

Deputy Hildegarde Naughton: I also welcome the citizens' assembly and think the conversation will really start when it reports. In the meantime, I have allocated €850,000 for cocaine-related treatment. I also allocated €500,000 in June 2023 and €1.5 million for an education programme around drug use, for the first time. I have met drug and alcohol task forces and gone into detox units and services up and down the country. Funding is the issue. There are some fantastic programmes that need to be rolled out. However, we also need to make sure that whatever programmes are in place follow the right model and address the issues on the ground.

That is why looking at emerging drug trends is really important. That is what the HSE is doing but I absolutely realise the importance of increasing funding and making sure it goes into services not just in urban areas, but also in rural Ireland. We need to look at emerging drugs and have an honest conversation about drug use in this country.