Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative
The Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative was established in November 2000 funded through the National Drugs Strategy Team.
The central focus of this initiative is the promotion of Traveller inclusion into the national, regional and local response being developed to address drug use and to support Traveller organisations in tackling the issue of drug use within the Traveller community.
The work of the initiative concentrates on four keys areas:
- Work with Travellers and Traveller Organisations
Working with Travellers and Traveller organisations to support their access to existing and proposed local and regional initiatives addressing drug issues.
- Traveller Inclusion Working with Local Drug Task Forces, Health Boards, Traveller Health Units and a range of vocational groups in order to impact on personnel and services, e.g. Prison Staff, Gardai, Visiting Teachers, Youth Services and other relevant structures in order to raise their awareness and understanding of the distinct needs of Travellers and to promote their commitment to meeting those needs in an appropriate manner.
- Research
Source funding and promote research into Travellers and drug use, research that would promote the goals of the Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative and promote inclusion and sensitivity to Travellers and Traveller issues in non-Traveller specific research that is being carried out into drug use. -
Impacting on Policy
Work at a national level to ensure positive outcomes for Travellers in any existing and emerging new structures which impact on policies, procedures and services.
Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative Information e-bulletin Spring 2008
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Traveller specific drugs initiative e-bulletin
Spring 2007
The Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative' latest e-bulletin is the first edition for this year. In the current edition you will find:
- TSDI host Regional Workshops in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee on Drugs
- Regional Workshops Feedback
- NACD Report Update
- National Drug Strategy Updates
- News Bites
Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative E-bulletin 2006
This edition contains:
- A summary of the presentations and discussions from our national day event in April including a presentation by Citywide Drug Crisis Campaign, the Daish Project, Bray Travellers CDP
- An article on the experience of Patrick McCann who recently completed the NUI certificate in Addiction Studies
- Anotice board on upcoming events and updates on the work that the TSDI have been involved in.
Publications and Submissions
Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative Information leaflet
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Moving Forward: Exploring Responses to Drug Issues in the Traveller Community A conference hosted by the Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative, Pavee Point Travellers Centre Conference Proceedings May 2005
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Submission to the HOMELESS AGENCY on the Action Plan on Homelessness 2007-2010
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Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative Synopsis Paper
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Submission on the Mid Term Review of the National Drug Strategy 2001-8
to the National Drug Strategy Team September 2004
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Future work
The experience of
the Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative is that more community
development lead work is needed in order for Travellers and Traveller
organisations to tackle the drugs issue within the Traveller community.
This is within the framework of the national drugs strategy, which has
since the first report highlighted the importance of community
involvement and consultation in the development of drug strategies. To
date Traveller inclusion in the processes of consultation and active
involvement in the development of strategies has been limited and
urgently needs to be developed.
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