Northwest Regional

About the Drugs Task Force

• Background
• About the North West Regional Drugs Task Force
• The National Drugs Strategy
• Members of the Drugs Task Force

Background

Under the National Drugs Strategy 2001 - 2008, Regional Drugs Task Forces have been established throughout Ireland to provide responses to illicit drug use and underage drinking problems at a local level. Each Task Force is comprised of representatives from governmental agencies, local authorities, community and voluntary groups, and others with an interest in or responsibility for these problem areas. Their primary role is to ensure a coordinated response in addressing illicit drug use and underage drinking within their respective regions and to develop appropriate responses to local needs.

Established in 2003, the North West Regional Drugs Task Force has a remit for the North West region including all of Counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, and the northwestern portion of County Cavan. Extending from the Inishowen Peninsula to the Leitrim-Longford border, the region is characterised by its dispersed population, high dependency age profile, proximity to the border with Northern Ireland and the disproportionate effects of long-term unemployment, rural isolation and lack of access to services.

Arising from extensive consultative work and a series of group workshops and review sessions, the Strategy Plan 2005 - 2008 provides insight into the severity of the problems facing the region, identifies gaps in currently available services, and provides an action plan for future responses.

At the present time, according to available data and consultation with representatives of statutory bodies, agencies and groups, the North West experiences relatively low drug prevalence levels. Cannabis and ecstasy are the most prominently used illicit drugs in the region, and underage drinking is a major concern for all communities, both rural and urban. This low prevalence level, however, is under increasing pressure due to the proximity and influence of Derry city and, according to An Garda Síochána, of a growing illicit drugs supply network. Furthermore poly-drug use, combined with alcohol misuse is increasingly prominent among young people.

This three-year Plan provides for a range of specific, activity-based responses to be undertaken by the North West Regional Drugs Task Force and its constituent members in addressing the existing and developing problems facing the region. Organised under the Strategic Objective headings of the Plan, and agreed by key stakeholders, these responses include actions dealing specifically with the areas of:

• Awareness
• Coordination
• Communication
• Operations
• Direct Actions
• and Advocacy

Emphasising the key role to be played by the community and voluntary sectors in responding to the problems of illicit drug use and underage drinking, many of these actions are specifically directed at assisting such bodies in delivering appropriate, evidence-based responses to local problems. Particular focus is placed upon ensuring that the needs of rural communities are addressed, as the effects of illicit drug use and underage drinking upon these communities have not been recognised in the past.

The Task Force, as the coordinating body for the region, provides the key to the successful implementation of this Plan to address the problems encountered by individuals and communities in the North West as a result of illicit drug use and underage drinking. With appropriate funding, this Plan provides the framework for the successful coordination of regional activities and the effective implementation of appropriate and innovative responses to local problems in the area for the next three years.

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About the North West Regional Drugs Task Force

Established in 2003 under the NDS, the North West Regional Drugs Task Force is the responsible body for tackling the issues associated with illicit drug use and underage drinking in the North West region, the operational area of the Health Services Executive - North West Area (HSE NW), formerly North Western Health Board (NWHB).

Comprised of local representatives from statutory and voluntary bodies in the region, as well as public, governmental and community representatives (see current membership listing in Appendix I), the NWRDTF is committed to implementing a Strategic Plan for the region in tackling illicit drug use and underage drinking.

Organisational Structure

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The National Drugs Strategy

The Overall Strategic Objective of the National Drugs Strategy 2001 - 2008 'Building on Experience' is.
...to significantly reduce the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research"

This is a multi-agency group convened as directed by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) and overseen by the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs and the Minister of State, Mr Noel Ahern.

The Team provides an annual report to the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs who in turn provides regular updates to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion.

The Strategic Aims of the NDS are to:

• Reduce availability of illicit drugs
• Promote throughout society a greater awareness, understanding and clarity of the dangers of drug misuse
• Enable people with drug misuse problems to access treatment and other supports in order to re-integrate into society
• Reduce the risk behaviour associated with drug misuse
• Reduce the harm caused by drug misuse to individuals, families and communities
• Have valid, timely and comparable data on the extent and nature of drug misuse in Ireland
• Strengthen existing partnerships in and with communities and build new partnerships to tackle problems of drug misuse

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"...to significantly reduce the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research"