Doolan - A drug policy borne out of struggle
Published: 6 March, 2005
Sinn Féin Dublin South East Representative, Cllr. Daithí Doolan, speaking at the the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, welcomed "Sinn Féin's latest publication of Policy Principles on Drugs. It is the product based on our experience in working class communities across the country. It is a policy borne out of struggle."
Speaking at the R.D.S. Dublin, Cllr. Doolan said, "This document is vital to those of us who continue to tackle the causes and consequences of drug dealing and drug addiction. Politicians and media would have us believe that the problem is under control or even gone away. This is far from the truth. Drug addiction continues to be the scourge it was in the 1980's and 1990's. Consecutive governments have simply chose to ignore the problem in the hope it would remain contained or magically disappear. But unfortunately for those people where drug addiction is a daily reality this is simply not true. We know there is no magic solution.
"The current drugs problem is a product of years of marginalisation, unemployment and government neglect. While this document does not proclaim to be the blue print for a drug free future it does set out the framework of principles that Sinn Féin uses in dealing with the problem of drugs. It sees the community as being a major asset in any battle against drugs, for too long the people with the experience have been excluded by the so called experts. This must end immediately and be replaced by a community based, holistic approach to implementing a long term programme for our towns and cities. Short term medical models are doomed to failure as proved time and time again."
In conclusion Cllr. Doolan claimed, "this document radically challenges how things were done in the past and offers a way forward to a better future for many of our communities. I have no doubt that this document will be the centre of much debate and this is definitely a healthy development." Ends
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