4 March 1999 Edition

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Community excluded from drugs meeting.

by Dan O'Neill.

The Falls Community Council (FCC) has expressed concern at a decision by Belfast City Council to exclude a number of prominent drug awareness community representatives from a major council meeting on the emerging drug problem, while inviting the RUC to attend the event.

Sean Paul O'Hare of the FCC Drug Awareness Unit criticised the lack of community representation at the event. He said: ``I find it strange that the organisers of the meeting have not informed many of the community workers who are trying to develop a local response to the ongoing problems of drug misuse, yet they saw fit to invite the RUC to the event, despite their ineffective approach to the drugs problem in West Belfast. It is widely believed in the community that the RUC has used known drug dealers as informants to work for them.''

Mr O'Hare continued: `` It is rather ironic that the guest speaker, Torqny Peterson who is a director of European Cities Against Drugs, should endorse a policy where local community involvement has to be to the fore of any drug awareness strategy yet there was little or no representation from the community to hear his progressive speech.

``In order to curb the growing threat of drug misuse,'' added O'Hare, ``we must all share and learn from others who have have the necessary experience and skills. The debate on drug misuse reduction is one which has to be all-inclusive and cannot be left to a select and exclusive few. If the City Council is considering developing an awareness strategy we hope it will consult with those who work at a community level and not only those at statutory level.''

O'Hare also welcomed the call from Mr Peterson on the need for local community involvement in the development of a drug awareness strategy.

An Phoblacht
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Dublin 1
Ireland