‘Who is speaking up for those dying from substance misuse’
By Mary Dennehy
AFTER more than five years at the helm of the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force, Eamon Dolan is vacating the role of Chairperson with one question in mind, who is speaking up for those dying from substance misuse and their families?
Having worked in Tallaght Garda Station for 17 years, with a number of years spent serving as Superintendent, Mr Dolan saw first-hand the impact substance misuse has on communities.
“I took up the Chairperson post of the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce [TDATF] more than five years ago because I wanted to give something back and I also saw the impact that substance misuse has on communities during my work with An Garda Siochana”, Mr Dolan told The Echo.
“Those working on the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force are very well intended and hard-working people who provide a vital service to the communities of Tallaght and Whitechurch.
“These people have a knowledge of what is needed in communities and they should be listened to.”
In the first three years of Mr Dolan’s term as Chairperson, the TDATF was hit with a 23 per cent reduction in funding – which has not been restored.
“After the 23 per cent reduction, funding has been static and there has been no increases or indication that restoration is in sight,” he said.
“People on the ground are working so hard and are so motivated to make communities better, safer places for people to live, but the funding they receive does not reflect this.
“There is no funding or avenue to deal with emerging needs and during my time as Chairperson, the task force took alcohol under its remit with no additional resources.
“Staff have also had no pay increases since 2008.”
When asked what his main priority would be after his term as Chair, Mr Dolan said the number of deaths nationally from substance misuse.
The most recent figures available for the number of deaths from substance misuse date back to 2014, when 719 people are recorded as dying from drugs or alcohol.
Between the years of 2004 and 2015, 7,422 people lost their lives to substance misuse, according to information published by the National Drug-Related Deaths Index.
“Who is speaking up for the father, mother, daughter, son or grandchild who has died from substance misuse and their family?” Mr Dolan asked.
“Nobody is speaking up for these people, nobody is saying that we need to reduce these deaths.
“A sad fact as well is that out of the 719 deaths in 2014, 230 of the deaths involved diazepam – which is a prescription drug.”
Looking forward, Mr Dolan said: “The TDATF carried out a piece of research called Hidden Harm which showed that there are more than 3,000 children living in Tallaght and Whitechurch who are at risk of being affected by parental substance misuse.
“This work needs to be dealt with but there is no funding available.
“How are we going to break the cycle or culture of substance misuse?
“We need a full-time Minister to tackle the whole issue of substance misuse… and there needs to be political support.”
Mr Dolan also stressed the need for the re-engagement of statutory departments, with the Department of Education not attending a TDATF meeting since 2010 and the Department of Social Welfare engaging in “sporadic” attendance – which has stopped altogether.
“We need all statutory agencies working together,” Mr Dolan said.
“A national campaign, similar to the quit smoking campaign, is also needed and the Department of Education needs to roll out a curriculum at national, secondary and third level on substance misuse and the dangers.
He added: “The gardai are doing their bit on the supply side and now we need all of the other departments to man up.”
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