Philip Jennings Coordinator Safer Blanchardstown www saferblanchardstown com
Philip Jennings Coordinator Safer Blanchardstown www. saferblanchardstown. com Phone: 01: 870 8494
Background: • Drug dealers are even targeting users’ mothers to tighten their grip of fear A new survey has brought this intimidation light. The Journal. ie Feb 16 th 2016 • Ruthless drug dealers force terrified mum to pay daughter's debt by threatening to rape her. Dublin research shows that thugs and gangland criminals are targeting mothers over their children's drug debts. DUBLIN LIVE. IE : 11 MAY 2016 11 TH 2016 • • THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF INDEBTED DRUG ADDICTS Violence and sexual abuse – misery of drug debt hits users and families across country The Irish Times : Feb 17 th 2016 • Drug dealers threatened to kill my son for € 30 debt' - Mother speaks about intimidation her family suffered from local rural gang independent. ie : February 17 th 2016
Ascending, progressive & ordered development of behaviour Higher order Middle order (Drug Addiction ) (Problematic drug use) (Recreational drug use) Lower order (Experimentation)
Recommendation 6 • Develop an initiative to expose the link between recreational drug use, the real money and the resulting devastating serious violence. • This may be achieved through an awareness raising campaign • coupled with exposure of “the real money link” by all public representatives and Gardaí, in written and spoken media, as and when the opportunity arises.
How many people ? How much money? Ø NACDA General Pop Study 2016 -9% of adults living in Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland between 15 & 64 years of age tried drugs in last year Ø Census 2011 – 4. 8 Million in Republic of Ireland & 1. 8 million lived in Northern Ireland (6. 6 m) Ø Those aged between 15 and 64 years numbered 3, 022, 869 in the Republic and in Northern Ireland 1, 080, 000 (4, 102, 869 m) for the whole of Ireland Ø 9% of 4, 102, 869 = 369, 258 engaged in recreational drug use each week… Ø € 10 pw = € 3, 692, 580 per week X by 52 weeks = € 192, 014, 269 per year Ø BLD&ATF Drug & Alcohol Trends Monitoring System = RDU 90%
Harms • Anthony Campbell 20, • Sean Scully 8, • Shane Geoghegan 28, • Melanie Mc. Carthy 16, • Martin O’Rourke 24 • Trevor O’Neill 41,
What Community Thinks • “What can the community do, the community can do nothing” • “Even more Gardaí will not solve this” • “There but for the grace of god. . it could be me, you or that lady over there” • “It will never be sorted there is too much money involved” ( RTE Drive time Vox-pop )
Where does the problem lie? • Nature Nurture • Social Problem • Package
Aim
Aim: To tackle the underlying cause of the drugs issue
DEMAND Demand is the necessary precondition for production and distribution of any product…including illicit drugs
Supply Reduction & Demand Reduction in recreational drug use mean: Ø Reduced demand Ø Reduced supply Ø Less money to cartels/money laundering/damage to economy/society /OCG’s Ø Less problematic drug use Ø Less drug related crime Ø Less intimidation of individuals/families/communities/drug related murders Ø Reduction in Garda time/ Prison/ Courts/ Health Ø Supply reductions activity ranges from participation in international, cross- boarder and local operations : Ø TBYB should be one of these cooperative approaches
Start a conversation • • Within families Among friends In general public In schools/shops/factories/busses The issues behind the message discussed Every person is a stakeholder Key Role: Gardaí/Public Representatives
Branded REMEMBER IT ALWAYS HARMS SOMEONE “THINK BEFORE YOU BUY”
What worked • Seat Belt Campaign • Drink Driving • Check your smoke alarm day
Promotion • National Campaign • Including: Cinema TV/Radio Social/Print Media Festivals Organisations Conferences Posters/Billboards etc.
Opportunities • Alter the apathy of the unaffected • Challenge the normalisation and trivialisation of recreational drug use • Collective approach • Further development
Why we are here Cross party/organisation endorsement & support Join and begin the conversation Promote initiative Send/Forward/Post/Tweet on launch date a Short message of support • Online video/short video and posters • www. thinkbeforeyoubuy. ie • Funding • •
Video – Q & A Thank You
- Slides: 20