A Year of Positive Living
By Michael Pierse
CABRA is a working-class suburb of Dublin which has successfully managed to combat the drugs problem in the area and rebuild community spirit. Although the community's strategy is a model for other areas, those involved are aware that is a battle that is never fully won.
``There was an unacceptable level of drug taking in the area and many people felt unable to react because of the sheer scale of the problem,'' says local Sinn Féin Councillor Nicky Kehoe. ``Eventually though, the community decided they had had enough and set up a broad-based committtee from all political persuasions.''
The Cabra Communities Against Drugs committee's objectives were clearly set out from the beginning - to isolate and deal with the pushers, provide facilities for local addicts and relevant education for children.
``We took each pusher as they came along, rather than attempting to tackle them collectively,'' Kehoe explains. ``We needed a victory to boost confidence, and our first march was a success. Over a period of six to eight months we ejected 35 pushers from the area.''
Kehoe stresses the importance of careful planning and ensuring that marches are well stewarded and strategic. ``We always had a policy of bringing the dealers in first. Community activists would gather information on them - the times, days and regular occurrences of their activites. This evidence would be put before them by a delegation from the committee. If they persisted in peddling drugs, they would then be marched on.'' This strategy proved a rapid success, with up to 3,000 people attending marches. Heroin dealing was driven from the area and a major chunk was also taken from the hash and ecstacy industries.
``Most of Cabra's dealers would have relations in the area,'' says Kehoe. ``When they want to come in, for family occasions, they come to the committee.'' Lenience was also accorded to young addicts who were also selling. ``The committee would approach the addict's family and try to persuade them of the need to get treatment for that individual. If their drug selling continued they would be put out of the community for six months while we would arrange places for them on drug treatment programmes, to facilitate their reintegration into the community. They were always seen as our addicts and in a compassionate light - we didn't want to alienate them.''
But drugs marches are not enough, Kehoe maintains. ``The community decided to highlight the positive elements of the Cabra community and set up a project called the `Positive Living Year'. Clubs, schools and committees embarked on a holistic approach, culminating in a weekend festival during the year.''
The `Positive Living' theme is now in its second year and Kehoe believes it has created a drugs-free atmosphere in the area.
Recently, however, Cabra has been reminded that constant vigilance is necessary. A 2,000-strong march held recently to the house of a drug-dealing couple shows that the scourge of drugs has far from disappeared. The couple have since put a `For Sale' sign on their house.
The absence of open dealing, according to Kehoe, does not mean that dealers are not continuing in their activities. ``Though the trade may be less visible, the effects are still present,'' he told An Phoblacht. ``The gardaí, who we have always made great efforts to include, are now reneging on their promises and failing to involve themselves in co-ordinated community activities. We cannot do this on our own.''
Unlike many hastily-constructed working-class estates and flats complexes around Dublin, where social problems have resulted from bad planning and lack of facilities, Cabra is a settled community with plenty of close families and community pride. It already boasts a thriving Gaelscoil and Nicky Kehoe hopes that the £800,000 secured by the community to build a sports and recreation centre will further bind that community spirit. Land in the John Paul Park, which is used by drug abusers for shooting up, will be reclaimed for the purposes of the project. Though it still needs an extra £1.2 million, the plan will also help reclaim the community's children.
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