Drug Use Escalates Among Children in Dublin 15, Research Reveals
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Blanchardstown,Dublin – A concerning new report from the Blanchardstown Local drug and Alcohol Task Force indicates a significant rise in drug use among primary and secondary school children in the Dublin 15 area. The research highlights the alarming prevalence of drug dealing and substance abuse, including cocaine and benzodiazepines, among individuals under the age of 18.
The findings reveal that children as young as 11 are experimenting with various substances, including cannabis herb, cannabis oil, and nitrous oxide – commonly known as laughing gas. Furthermore, the report documents an increase in the use of more dangerous drugs like cocaine and benzodiazepines, signaling a worrying trend of escalating substance abuse.
Aontú spokesperson and task Force member, Councillor Ellen Troy, emphasized the normalization of drug and alcohol use within the community as a key contributing factor. She explained to Newstalk that children are frequently exposed to substance abuse within their families and social environments, leading to a concerning pattern of intergenerational transmission.
“The normalization is a huge issue,” councillor Troy stated. “As numbers increase of people abusing alcohol, and children are in that environment with familial use of drugs and alcohol, then it just flows. We want to do our best to bring it to the attention of the government so that they can fund thes task forces in a more concrete way.”
The report underscores the widespread availability of drugs within both primary and secondary schools in the blanchardstown area, creating an environment where children are easily exposed to and perhaps involved with illicit substances.Councillor Troy has pledged to advocate for increased funding for the Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force to bolster prevention efforts and address the growing crisis.
This report follows a national trend of increasing substance use among young people in Ireland, with recent data from the Health service Executive (HSE) showing a rise in referrals for adolescent addiction services.Experts attribute this increase to a combination of factors, including social pressures, mental health challenges, and the accessibility of drugs through online channels.
Understanding the Roots of Youth Drug Use
The issue of drug use among young people is a complex one,rooted in a variety of social,economic,and psychological factors. Historically, patterns of substance abuse have shifted with changing societal norms and the availability of different drugs. In Ireland, the opioid crisis of the early 2000s highlighted the devastating consequences of unchecked addiction, leading to increased awareness and prevention efforts. However, the emergence of new psychoactive substances and the proliferation of online drug markets present ongoing challenges.
Factors contributing to youth drug use include peer pressure, family history of addiction, mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, and a lack of positive coping mechanisms. early exposure to trauma and adverse childhood experiences can also significantly increase the risk of substance abuse. Effective prevention strategies require a multi-faceted approach that addresses these underlying factors and provides young people with the support and resources they need to make healthy choices.
Frequently Asked Questions About drug Use in Dublin 15
