‘Views on Alcohol and Drug Related Issues: Findings from the October 2016 Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey’ published today.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) today published Research and Statistical Bulletin 8/2017 ‘Views on Alcohol and Drug Related Issues: Findings from the October 2016 Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey’. This is an Official Statistics Publication.

The findings provide information to assist in measuring progress with two Northern Ireland Executive strategies: (i) Building Safer, Shared and Confident Communities – A Community Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland 2012-2017 and (ii) the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2 2011-16.

Key Findings

• Results from the October 2016 Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey (NIOS) found that 43.3% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘I am concerned about alcohol related issues in my local area’.This compares to 40.3% of respondents who disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement.
• Just over two fifths of respondents (42.9%) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘I am concerned about drug related issues in my local area’ compared with 37.5% who disagreed or strongly disagreed.
• The most cited primary reason given for those reporting concern about alcohol related issues in the local area was ‘underage drinking’ (59.1%). The most cited secondary issue for respondents in relation to alcohol was ‘drinking in public places’ (33.1%).For drug related issues, 55.0% of respondents stated ‘drug use/abuse’ was the primary drug related issue in the local area.The most cited secondary issue for respondents in relation to drugs was ‘drug dealing’ (43.6%).
• Four fifths of respondents (82.4%) stated there was no change in the level of alcohol related issues in their local area in the last 12 months.A similar proportion of respondents (80.0%) stated there was no change in the level of drug related issues in their local area in the last 12 months.
• Of those respondents who reported having approached a body or representative in the last year, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was the most likely organisation to be approached for both an alcohol (64.9%) and a drug (52.8%) related issue in their local area.
• Just over one in eleven respondents (8.8%) had heard of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2, 2011-16.
• Taking everything into account, 9.4% of respondents expressed a lot or total confidence that enough is being done to tackle alcohol and/or drug related issues across Northern Ireland and 43.4% expressed some confidence, while 47.2% had little or no confidence.
• Respondents expressed higher levels of confidence in the PSNI’s work to tackle alcohol and/or drug related issues across Northern Ireland than that of any other organisation, with 25.9% of respondents having a lot or total confidence and 49.9% having some confidence.

Notes to editors: 

In 2012, the Department of Justice published Building Safer, Shared and Confident Communities – A Community Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland 2012-2017, which sets out the vision of a safer, shared and cohesive Northern Ireland with less crime and anti-social behaviour and where people have confidence in the agencies that work on their behalf.

The revised New Strategic Direction (NSD) on Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2 2011-2016, led by DHSSPS (now DoH), aimed to reduce the level of alcohol and drug related harm in Northern Ireland, and included outcomes to improve community safety and address anti-social behaviour. The NSD highlighted the importance of local delivery of services, programmes and initiatives to reduce alcohol and drug related harm.

The bulletin refers to fieldwork undertaken in October 2016, which involved 946 people aged 16 years and over giving complete interviews.  This represents an eligible response rate of 49%.

Official Statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.  They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs and are produced free from any political interference.  They are also subject to restrictions in terms of pre-release access. 

View this bulletin or alternatively contact Analytical Services Group, Department of Justice,1st Floor, Laganside House, 23-27 Oxford Street, Belfast, BT1 3LA (Telephone: 028 90724530; Email: statistics.research@justice-ni.x.gsi.gov.uk).

Press queries about this publication should be directed to the DOJ Press Office on telephone number 028 9052 6444.

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