A DEMOCRATIC Left policy document published yesterday calls for a national agency to deal with the drugs problem.
The party also issued a discussion document yesterday entitled Kicking the Habit - Strategies for Reducing Drugs Demand.
The recommendation is included in the party's submission to the ministerial task force on measures to reduce demand for drugs. The task force is chaired by the Democratic Left Minister for State, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
The proposed national agency would "advise and make recommendations to government on all aspects of the economic and social planning in relation to drug use in the State".
The agency would report to the Department of the Taoiseach and would "initiate and pilot innovative measures aimed at reducing the demand for drugs with particular reference to specific areas designated as Demand Reduction Areas".
Launching the submission yesterday, Mr Eric Byrne TD said: "Establishing a national agency would be signalling a new determination to rid communities of the drugs menace." He said it was crazy that there were two main bodies dealing with the drugs problem in Dublin".
The submission also recommends "one-stop centres" where a range of information would be available to addicts and others. Targeted employment initiatives for people doing work aimed at reducing their dependency is also proposed.
The document says opiate use is confined mainly to Dublin and "this means the thrust of measures outlined must be aimed at Dublin".
On policing, Mr Byrne called for the establishment of community policing councils to be made up of local residents, local authorities, public representatives and community-based gardai.
Included among its main recommendations are the establishment of a statutory drugs advisory board, school-based education programmes and media guidelines designed to avoid sensationalising the issue.