The Gazette 1983

GAZETTE

N O V E M B E R

1983

Addiction Problems Reviewed by Society's Symposium

Safeguard Systems

Appraisal of the increase in alcohol and drug addiction in Ireland was undertaken at a symposium organised by the Law Society last month. The participants included doctors, social workers, clergy, senior officers of the Garda Drug Squad and solicitors. The Minister of State at the Department of Health (Fergus O'Brien, T.D.), who is chairman of the Government Task Force on Drug Abuse, opened the symposium with statistics on the growth of drug abuse in Dublin, the increase in the number of patients treated in hospital, statistics of convictions for "pushing" — up from 24 in 1981 to 99 last year; and for seizures — up from 1,204 in 1981 to 1,873 last year. His figures were elaborated by the panel of speakers including the Senior Registrar at the National Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre, Jervis Street Hospital, who said that "the number of young heroin abusers treated at the Centre increased from an average of five per month in 1979 to 250 a month last year". He considered that the heroin abuse problem by very young people in all classes of society was the major drug threat, followed by abuse of cannabis and synthetic opium such as diconal and palffium. The approach to rehabilitation of drug addicts by the Coolmine Lodge Therapeutic Community was explained by James Comberton, executive chairman of the organis- ation, who emphasised the manner in which drug abuse can be detected by parents. Dr. James Tubridy, Director of the Alcoholic Unit at St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, showed the number of alcoholic admissions to hospitals has risen steeply since 1965, with two "hiccups" in the graph — one caused by a very sharp rise in the price of alcohol in 1975 and the introduction of the breathalyser in 1978. He also emphasised the increase in prosecutions for drunken driving, with a special note on the greater number of women charged with this offence. Statistically, he commented, 5% of the poeple who drink alcohol become addicts, giving the country approximately 75,000 alcoholics. He criticised the rise in the number of licensing exemptions granted — from 6,342 in 1967 to 42,111 in 1979. Mrs. Odette Thompson, Director of the Hanly Centre, Dun Laoghaire, reviewed the effect of alcoholism on individuals and families; the use of Barring Orders, and the approach to rehabilitation through support groups. The discussions which followed each paper were questioning and informative with the majority of the audience contributing. The Law Society was thanked by Inspector Denis Mullins, of the Garda Drug Squad, and by other participants for the concern shown in the organisation of the symposium. Chairpersons for the sessions were Mrs. Moya Quinlan, Adrian Bourke and Anthony Ensor. •

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