The Normalisation of Substance Abuse Among Young Travellers in Ireland

Abstract

This report presents the findings of an exploratory study aimed at assessing the nature and extent of drug use amongst a group of young Travellers (aged twelve to eighteen years) in the South Eastern Region of Ireland. The results are intended to inform the Irish policy debate by providing data on patterns of youth drug use, drug-related risk behaviours, the impact of drug use on the Traveller community and issues regarding access to services. The young Travellers exhibited similar trends to “settled” adolescents with regard to drug use trends and attitudes but reported poor levels of health awareness and knowledge of drug services. The social exclusion of young Travellers puts them at risk of problematic drug use due to issues of poor literacy levels, family crisis, discrimination, poor knowledge of service provision relating to drug education and treatment, and the location of halting sites in areas of high drug usage.