Alcohol remains the main ‘drug’ that affects teenagers while Mephedrone is also making a comeback among young people in the West.
That’s according to the Western Region Drugs Taskforce who are this week holding an drug and alcohol awareness week discussing a range of issues affecting young people.
Around 60 people attended an information meeting on drugs and alcohol awareness and Cyber-bullying in Ballygar last night.
The meeting, at Colaiste Mhuire in Ballygar, was organised as part of Roscommon ’s first Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week, which is being run by the Western Region Drugs Taskforce and the local Community Resource Centre Aonad.
Neil Wilson, Drugs and Alcohol education co-ordinator with the Taskforce told the meeting that alcohol remains a huge issue and many teenagers don’t consider it a ‘dangerous’ drug.
Parents expressed shock when he said that one new type of drug is emerging each week.
He also said that Methadrone which became well known during the headshop era here is now making a comeback along with other drugs like ectasy.
He says these new drugs are available in many ways but one of the main concerns is that young people can buy them on the internet.
Cyber bullying was also the main reason that many parents attended the meeting.
Sean Fallon, a teacher from Dublin who has developed a toolkit for teachers to deal with the bullying issue explained the different forms of bullying and cyber-bullying and what parents can do to tackle the issue.
He said since the unfortunate deaths of teenagers like Ciara Pugsley from Leitrim and Erin gallagher in Donegal many harsh lessons about cyber bullying have been learned.
Emma O’Malley, the principal of Colaiste Mhuire in Ballygar where last night’s meeting took place says raising awareness is the only way to tackle the issue.
Further events are taking place as part of the awareness week today including at Elphin and Castlerea Community Schools.
Further information is available on www.wrdtf.ie.
