RAPID initiative to tackle drugs rolled out in Fermanagh and Omagh

by Gráinne Connolly

An initiative known as RAPID (Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs), which helps to remove prescription and illegal drugs from our streets by providing drug disposal bins, is to be launched in Fermanagh and Omagh following a successful pilot. 

(Launch of RAPID in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council - Councillor John Coyle, bottom right)

The addition of these three bins in the Fermanagh and Omagh district brings the total number of bins in Northern Ireland to 21. 

So far, over 65,000 tablets have been removed from our streets through this project - 90% of tablets have been prescription drugs. 

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the PSNI have been working closely with local Drug and Alcohol Coordination Teams and Policing Community Safety Partnerships. 

They've been working with communities and businesses within their areas to benefit from taking part in the initiative and having RAPID drug disposal bins installed. - 

Cathy Mullan, Senior Health Improvement Officer at the PHA, said:

“Alcohol and drug misuse is a common issue and causes suffering and tragedy to individuals, families and communities in Northern Ireland. 

“The RAPID initiative was initially piloted in 2010, and due to its success, as a joint health and community safety initiative, all of the partners are keen that it is further developed and expanded over coming years to install further bins across Northern Ireland, enabling more people and communities to learn more about the risks and dangers of drug misuse and to dispose of unwanted drugs easily and discreetly.” 

RAPID has three aims:
• Removal of prescription, illegal and new psychoactive substances 

• Provision of information and support to individuals, families, local businesses and community organisations to raise awareness of the effects and risks of using/misusing illegal and/or prescription drugs. 

• Bringing together community and statutory agencies, local businesses and the general public under the RAPID initiative to work towards making their local community a safer place to live. 

The new RAPID bins will be in Supervalu in Omagh, the Arc Healthy Living Centre in Irvinestown and Rooney's Eurospar in Enniskillen. 

It can give people both a safe and more discreet way of disposing drugs whether they are prescribed or illegal. 

Councillor John Coyle, the Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership(PCSP), said:  

“Should anyone possess, or come across, unwanted or unused drugs, I would encourage them  to place them in the most convenient RAPID bin safely and discreetly, enabling police to then dispose of them.

"By disposing of the drugs in the bin, they are permanently and securely removing them from potential misuse.

"The harmful consequences of drugs, even prescription drugs, falling into the wrong hands cannot be emphasised enough.

"The PCSP, PHA,PSNI ,ASCERT and Fermanagh drug and alcohol forums have worked in partnership to bring about this initiative and I have no doubt the RAPID bins will help make the community safer for us all ”

For more information on existing RAPID bins and/or how to contact your local Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team (DACT) and/or Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) to express an interest visit www.drugsandalcoholni.info/RAPID