The Tallaght Drugs Task Force has warned against any reduction in public spending on drug prevention and treatment programmes.
It reports a fall in the number of people under 17 using drugs, but an increase among those in their twenties.
While noting the particular success of its education projects, it says a third generation of drug users is emerging in some families.
Task force co-ordinator Grace Hill made her comments while presenting its strategy for the next five years.
Noting that seven out of ten drug users came from areas of high unemployment in Tallaght, Ms Hill warned that the force needed to grow and consolidate its programmes now to ensure drug abuse does not spiral out of control during the recession.
She said that while it is understandable that the public purse is under pressure, it was critical that public spending on the eleven-year-old initiative should be sustained as the drugs crisis of the 1980’s had taken more than a decade of hard work and substantial funding to turn around.
She said that from 2004-06, the numbers of over-25's presenting for treatment increased by over 60 while there were fewer under-17's, thanks new local addiction supports for young people.
