Athlone Drug Awareness Group was establised in 1996 as a result of public concern about the growing drug problem in the Greater Athlone Area. This group consists of members of various Statutory, Voluntary and Community Bodies along with a number of concerned individuals.
The core aim of Athlone Drug awareness Group is to encourage the involvement of people in the Athlone area in partnership with the voluntary and statutory services in developing strategies to reduce the demand for drugs.
A major part of the groups function is to create a greater awareness about the problem of alcohol and drug misuse through local and relevant initiatives. The group also has been involved in bringing various issues to the attention of Statutory Bodies and the Minister for Justice, Health and Children.
The group believes that the education of parents and young people about drug misuse is of primary importance. Therefore the group both supports and encourages any initiatives which will enhance the knowledge of the local community in relation to drug misuse.
For the past seven year, Buccaneers Rugby Football Club, in partnership with the Athlone Drugs Awareness Group and Athlone Gardai, have played host to the youth of Athlone and district by providing alcohol-free entertainment in the form of Youth Discos in the club’s premises.
These Discos have proved hugely successful and are eagerly awaited by the young teenagers of Athlone and its environs. Cllr. Frankie Keena of the Athlone Drugs Awareness Group believes that this success is primarily due to the fact that the Discos are very tightly supervised without ‘smothering’ those attending.
