A campaign has been launched in Galway to combat rising levels of underage drinking.
A Health Behaviour in School Age Children (HBSC) study has shown that almost 50 per cent of teenagers in the West, aged between 15 and 17 years old, have had an alcoholic drink in the past 30 days. The 46.7 per cent figure for the West is significantly higher than the rest of the country, with the national figure standing at 40.4 per cent.
The research also showed that 40.8 per cent of 15 to 17 year olds in the Western region had been drunk in the past 30 days, compared to 36.6 per cent nationally.
Speaking this week, Liam O’Loughlin of the Western Region Task Force said that Galway’s first Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week would aim to reduce the harm caused to individuals, families and communities across Galway through the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
“In order to do this, we have to first recognise that alcohol is a drug and, as such, causes more harm to individuals, families and communities than any other legal or illegal drug,” he said.
“The use of alcohol has become an integral part of major social occasions here in Ireland but perhaps most worrying is how our attitude to drink has appeared changed from one where it was mainly used as a social lubricant, to now drinking with the objective of getting “drunk”. Challenging our own personal engagement with both legal and illegal drugs is an ideal way to begin to reduce potential harms.”
The Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week will take place in the city and county from Monday and will include a packed programme of activities and information events putting drugs and alcohol under the spotlight.
The week will have a special focus on the needs of families faced with drug or alcohol difficulties and the supports that are available to them.
The Salthill Hotel will be the location for an expert seminar called ‘Family Matters’ on Friday 16 November to look at the hidden reality of drug and alcohol use on families.
‘Getting the Edge’ takes place at The Clayton Hotel on Thursday 15 November and is a free seminar on positive approaches to sport and fitness, which will also look at the impact of performance and image enhancement products that are often readily available.
Former governor of Mountjoy Prison John Lonergan will also give a talk on ‘Empowering the Community’ at Ballinasloe’s Gullane’s Hotel on Monday 12 November at 7.30pm.
For more information, see the WRDTF website at www.wrdtf.ie or follow @wrdtfawareweek on Twitter.
Source: Marie Madden, galwayindependent.com, 07/11/12
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