Drink And Drugs Issues Tackled

The scourge of drink and drugs among NI youngsters is being targeted in a two-prong assault.

Just a day after helping to launch a strategic plan for providing targeted substance misuse treatment for young people, the NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has today (Thursday) launched an integrated, co-ordinated action plan to prevent, reduce and address young people's drinking.

Yesterday he officially backed the Inter-Church Addiction Project's (ICAP) launch when he said: "Preventing, reducing and addressing the harm related to alcohol and drug misuse is a key priority for me and my Department.

"Substance misuse does not just affect the individual directly involved, it also has a real and lasting impact on the lives of their families, friends, and communities."

At today's event, where he launched the action plan at Newtownbreda High School in Belfast, Michael McGimpsey said: "Northern Ireland has an increasingly unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

"Our children and young people are particularly at risk as they are far more vulnerable than adults to suffering physical, emotional and social harm from their own and from other people's drinking," he said.

The Action Plan has been developed by the Department of Health with the support of the Northern Ireland Office, the police, the Department for Social Development and a range of other organisations, agencies and sectors.

The Minister highlighted the range of issues that the plan will address: "The action plan focuses on three main areas: reducing young people's demand for alcohol by providing information, education and training; restricting the supply of alcohol; and providing treatment and support for those who require additional help.

"Change will not come overnight, but by taking a pro-active and partnership approach, we can and will make a difference," he stated.

Also addressing the issue, NIO Minister for Policing and Justice Paul Goggins said: "Alcohol and young people do not mix and it is important that young people are made aware of the effects of alcohol.

"I therefore welcome publication of this plan, which seeks to reduce demand for alcohol by young people, restrict supply and accessibility to alcohol and to provide interventions and effective treatment and support for those young people most at risk.

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland welcomed the publication of the Young People's Drinking Action Plan and said that the police will continue to work with local councils and others on enforcement and Operation SNAPPER will be the focus of our enforcement activity across Northern Ireland.

"We will continue to proactively target drinking in public places throughout the summer months and build on the success of SNAPPER which has so far resulted in the confiscation of over 25,000 items of alcohol and the detection of over 1000 persons," he said.

(BMcC/JM)