Pubdate: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 Source: Irish Independent (Ireland) Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd Contact: http://www.independent.ie/ Author: Willie Dillon CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS RURAL DRUG PROBLEM Drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy are now found in almost every town and village in the country, a major drugs conference organised by the gardai will be told today. Delegates at the two-day conference will be told that rural Ireland has an emerging drug problem which needs to be addressed. The Monaghan conference, which will be addressed by drug experts from Ireland, the US, Britain and the Continent, will look specifically at the threat posed by drug use in rural areas. The event is being opened by the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Eoin Ryan, who has special responsibility for National Drugs Strategy. Mr Ryan is expected to tell delegates that the Government is conscious of the growing need to address an emerging drug problem in rural Ireland. He will warn strongly that the use of illicit substances is now a nationwide phenomenon, encompassing not only the large urban centres, but also smaller towns and villages. However, the experience in Dublin has shown that, if left unchecked, the problem has the potential to quickly spiral out of control, particularly in disadvantaged communities. - --- MAP posted-by: Greg