Dear Editor,
As a mother, an educator and a public representative, I am very concerned about the pervasive nature of the drug culture that is gripping our country. I am particularly concerned at the potential devastating effects on the section of our society who are most at risk: our young people.

In the course of the recent drug-related tragedies, the most worrying statement that I heard is that drug use, in particular cocaine, is an 'accepted part of the social scene'. If this is accurate, and I fear that it may be, then, as a nation we have a major problem on our hands. On no account must we allow drug use become part of our culture. This is what happened with alcohol and we see the fallout this has created.

Without users, there is no market for drugs. Young people are very easy targets for pushers. The devastating effects of drugs can overnight become personal to any family, if their youngsters come under the wrong influence and begin to experiment/become dependent. Drugs change the chemical reaction of the brain and rob the user of their personal power, often creating a total stranger in a family with fatal outcomes. On an ongoing basis there is a major job of education around drug and substance misuse to be done at parent and school level. Schools need to urgently examine their commitment to time on the curriculum for drug education. While mandatory for all schools as part of Social, Personal and Health education, in the exam-driven system at second level, I have a real concern that drug education gets pushed aside. Students at third level are equally vulnerable.

Education on its own is not enough. More immediately, the law needs to get tough on drug users. It must become extremely difficult to use drugs with any level of confidence. The law needs to move with the changing habits around drug use. Gardaí need to target in particular the party lifestyle and the social scenes in which drug use is becoming acceptable. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through the use of specially trained drug dogs in support. They pose no threat to the individual but are highly effective at detecting the presence of drugs on persons, in vehicles or establishments. Garda manpower alone cannot fight this epidemic. If we are serious about arresting the growth of a drug culture, drug dogs should be a regular support used to carry out road checks, to search nightclubs and pubs and places where people gather.

For example, it is a weak link that right now gardaí in Galway have to seek these specially trained drug dogs from Dublin if they need them. Drug dogs and trained handlers need to be available regionally in each major town/city throughout the country. The random use of drug dogs will act as a deterrent to drug use at major social events such as concerts and outdoor festivals. They should also be employed to patrol the vicinity of schools and sporting areas to protect our young people from pushers who hang around waiting to find easy targets. The message must go out loud and clear that drug use is not acceptable and will be met with the strongest of sanctions.

At a pre-Christmas debate in Seanad Eireann there was cross-party support that everything in our power should be done to arrest the drug epidemic. We urgently need a commitment from government to resource this fully on all fronts. I await hearing Minister Carey's commitment to action, including the regional resourcing of drug dogs and handlers.

There can be no comfort zone available to the user where drugs are concerned. Life is too precious.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, Ph.D., (Fine Gael)
Maree,
Oranmore,
Co. Galway

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