I was delighted to work alongside Cathy Moore, senior communications consultant, on the launch of the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force of specially commissioned research on the growth of illicit drugs in Tallaght and in particular the impact of the epidemic in crack cocaine use, including among women. Our strategy was to specifically target social affairs correspondents. Both Ailbhe Conneely RTE and Kitty Holland, Irish Times, ran special reports on the research, including first hand stories of recovery and highlighting the need for more funding. The issue received national attention and was debated in Dail Eireann. As a result of the attention the report recieved, the Task Force is receiving a share of national funding specifically earmarked to tackle the crack cocaine epidemic in a number of locations across the country.
Here, Grace Hill, co-ordinator of the Task Force, speaks about the difference it made, having myself and Cathy Moore work on this project with her.