Throwing Out A Lifeline

In Northern Ireland, few subjects unite paramilitaries, the government, communities and churches—but drugs are an exception. All of the prominent players are unified on the subject. Drugs, they claim, are dangerous, evil, wrong. Everyone should just say no to drugs.

However, this policy clearly doesn't help the people who do use or abuse drugs and may suffer bad trips, paranoia, ill-health, depression or, at the worst extreme, death, as a result.

Yet in a constantly evolving Northern Ireland, currently undergoing a period of relative peace and tranquillity, change is in the air.

Increasingly, policy is moving more towards concern for people and away from perpetuating the failed "Just Say No" approach. The authorities certainly don't endorse drug use amongst the populace, but there is a growing acceptance that it does occur, and won't be stopped either by draconian legal measures or the even harsher so-called "direct action" carried out by paramilitaries.

The embryonic stage of this new approach was formulated by a charity organisation called Lifeline, an English drugs counselling body based in Manchester. They advocate neither the demonisation nor the decriminalisation of drugs. Instead they aim for harm reduction, accepting the reality that people take drugs and will continue to do so. The organisation aims to give users sensible information about how to protect themselves from the more extreme dangers inherent in their behaviour.

Now Lifeline, whose operations are primarily concentrated in the North of England with some ventures into the drug "badlands" of Scotland, are conducting work in Northern Ireland in conjunction with a privately owned Belfast company, FP International, which although using Lifeline literature and producing some joint publications, is independent of the Manchester agency.

FP International was featured in a recent BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme on the heroin problem in Ballymena, Co. Antrim. It has been engaged, since October 1994, in distributing drug counselling literature and in the training of entertainment and youth club personnel to cope with drug users in a social context within Northern Ireland. Today, the company is employed by many of the most popular nightclubs in the North, where they hand out free advisory literature. Needless to say, the response has been somewhat mixed.

"Young people lap it up," says guiding force Frank McGoldrick, "but the likes of the Free Presbyterians condemn it. Older people also tend to have some problems with it, but that is because they are ill-informed."

McGoldrick also claims that he was verbally attacked by Rev. Eric Smyth, a lay preacher and Belfast DUP Councillor who is a former Lord Mayor.

Despite this, the two organisations have no intention of reducing their commitment. Lifeline is well used to facing down opposition. As Mike Linnell, Director of Communications, points out: "In the beginning there was fierce opposition from the police and authorities, yet, at the same time, we were actually receiving fan mail, even from some of the prisons."

In a society where drug users are all too often isolated and condemned, Lifeline stands out as a beacon of sense, acting with a keen regard for the reality of drug use. If, through their co-operation with FP International, this approach gained more widespread acceptance in Ireland, it would surely be a major leap forward in our treatment of the issue.

THE RUC RESPONSE
Hot Press contacted the RUC to ascertain their view of the "harm reduction" approach of FP International in Belfast. This was their response.

"It would be wrong for the RUC to comment on the efforts of individual organisations whether statutory, voluntary or otherwise who play their part in the ongoing war against drugs.

"The RUC take the lead against the drugs menace, but really to achieve lasting success a multi-agency approach enshrining enforcement, treatment, education and rehabilitation is essential.

"This approach reflects a national drugs strategy which establishes a partnership, with all agencies having their part to play."