Frontline staff unite to tackle schoolchild drug abuse

HEALTH chiefs brought together key frontline staff yesterday in response to increased drug use among schoolchildren.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) held a training workshop for more than 200 professionals from across the country.

The move followed European research which showed drug use had risen among 15 and 16-year-olds here and that Ireland ranked third out of 35 countries.

“Drug misuse among the under 18s age group is a serious and significant problem among some young people in Ireland today,” said a HSE spokesman.

He said that the 2003 ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) study showed a “notable increase” in the number of Irish school children taking drugs.

The study found that the number of 15 and 16-year-olds who used an illegal drug at some stage in their lives had risen from 32% in 1999 to 40% in 2003. This followed a drop, from 37% in 1995.

Ireland ranked third after the Czech Republic (44%) and Switzerland (41%). The average for the 35 ESPAD countries was 22%.

The report found that lifetime use of cannabis in Ireland dropped from 37% in 1995 to 32% in 1999, but then rose to 39% in 2003. Use of inhalants fell from 22% to 18%.

The HSE’s training workshop in west Dublin was for frontline professionals from state bodies, voluntary groups and community organisations.

This involved social workers, nurses, GPs, youth workers, adolescent psychiatrists, probation officers, counsellors and rehabilitation professionals.

“It is crucial that an inter-agency collaborative approach is adopted when working with young people who may have serious drug problems,” said HSE National Drug Strategy manager Cathal Morgan.

“Through improved co-operation and interaction between all those who are dealing with vulnerable young people we will be better able to identify and work with the young person and their families in responding to this.”