East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force Action Plan 2005-2008
THE EAST COAST REGIONAL DRUGS TASK FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2003 AND IS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY, VOLUNTARY AND STATUTORY REPRESENTATIVES WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE DRUG ISSUES WITHIN ITS REGION. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE, CONTACT:
MS SIOBHAN TURNER, EAST COAST REGIONAL DRUGS TASK FORCE, BLOCK B, THE CIVIC CENTRE, MAIN STREET, BRAY, CO. WICKLOW. TEL. NO: 01 274 4238, FAX. NO: 01 274 4277 Email: [email protected] www.drugsinfo.ie DRUGS HELPLINE FREEPHONE: 1800 459 459 Drugs. There are answers. East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword 2
Section 1: Nature and Extent of Drug Misuse 4
Section 2: Profile of Existing Service Provision Statutory, Voluntary and Community. 19
Section 3 Extent to Which Current Service Provision Meets Identified Need. 31
Section 4 Measures Necessary to Address Gaps in Service Provision. 47
Section 5 Developing and Prioritising Specific Proposals 55
Section 6 Evaluation 95
Section 7 Cross Task Force Issues and Learnings from LDTF 101
Appendix 1 105
Appendix 2 163
Appendix 3 185
1 East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force
FOREWORD
It is my honour to present on behalf of the East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force (ECRDTF) our first Action Plan for the region. The Action Plan endeavours to provide a strategic framework towards providing services to drug users, their families and the whole community.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of individuals and groups, firstly to thank the team from Inclusion Training and Consultancy Services for their assistance and advice in putting this report together. Secondly a word of thanks should be extended to members of the public, groups, services, services users and statutory providers who took part in the wide range of public consultation work for the plan. Their views on the drugs situation within their communities was invaluable to the work of the Task Force. And lastly, to each and every individual member of the Task Force, including all subcommittee members for their time, enthusiasm and expertise that they gave in developing this plan.
The plan is a beginning for the Task Force and we wish to acknowledge the immense amount of good work already undertaken by statutory, community and voluntary groups dealing with addiction problems within the region. The Task Force plan takes on board the work currently taking place and has tried where possible to recommend proposals in areas where there is a gap in services or where complimentary services to existing services can be developed.
As we are all aware, drug misuse is one of the greatest problems of our time, and affects the lives of individuals, families and communities. Drugs impact on the physical and mental health of the user; they also impact on families, who often cannot cope with the guilt, shame, helplessness and fear associated with drug misuse. Communities are also affected and fear the behaviour of individuals under the influence of drugs. The drugs problem affects us all and everyone can play a role in tackling the drug problem in this region.
The ultimate goal of the East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force is to provide a holistic approach in the provision/support of services for individuals and their families affected by addiction.
The Task Forces overall aim is to significantly reduce the harm caused to individuals and communities by the misuse of drugs. We hope to establish, maintain and support services to enable individuals who misuse drugs to achieve and maintaining a drug free outcome. However the Task Force recognises that not all individuals will achieve the aim of a drug free state, therefore a variety of interventions are recommended to empower an individual with a drug misuse problem to live as normal a lifestyle as possible.
2 East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force
The Task Force is aware that the multi-faceted problem of drugs will not be solved purely through the implementation of this plan, and that work in key areas of drug misuse will require further investigation in the future work of the Task Force. However, the Task Force hopes that this plan will be the step forward towards significant changes in service delivery to individuals and communities. The work of the Task Force will be ongoing and long term and we hope that this Plan is the initial stepping stone to addressing the drug misuse problems within our area.
John O’ Brien, Chairperson.
3 East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force
Section 1
Nature and Extent of Drug Misuse
4 East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force
Work Package 1: The Headlines