NI to host meeting on challenges of cocaine misuse

Northern Ireland will host a meeting on the challenges presented by cocaine misuse.

Following the fourth meeting of the British Irish Council on the misuse of drugs, in Dublin, Ministers from throughout the British Isles re-iterated their commitment and continued co-operation to combating the misuse of drugs.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Shaun Woodward said: "Drug misuse remains a serious challenge. That is why meetings like today, are so important. They are an opportunity to pool expertise, experience and network knowledge.

"The war against drug misuse will be a long one. We are making progress. Today we reviewed successful action programmes to lower drug related deaths, helping children whose parents misuse drugs, better education projects and arrest referral schemes.

"In Northern Ireland, we want to see a specific focus now be given to the misuse of cocaine. This drug poses a growing threat, not least because of its wide availability.

"Other countries will take the lead on topics such as the confiscation of criminal assets, rehabilitation for drug misusers and commissioning drug treatment services."

The British-Irish Council (BIC) was established under the East-West or Strand Three element of the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed in 1998.

(MB/SP)