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Drug Treatment Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Ceisteanna (897)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

897. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5512/20]

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Freagraí scríofa

The National Drugs Strategy, ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025’, promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with drug use treated first and foremost as a public health issue, rather than as a criminal justice issue.

One of the actions within this Strategy (3.1.35) was to establish a Working Group to consider the approaches taken in other jurisdictions to the possession of drugs for personal use with a view to making recommendations on policy options. The Working Group’s report was published in August 2019.

The role of the Working Group was to investigate, in detail, alternative approaches to dealing with the possession of drugs for personal use in Ireland. Research was conducted on behalf of the Working Group on alternative approaches taken in other jurisdictions, including Portugal and Colorado. Decriminalisation was also considered by this group, however it was concluded that decriminalising drug use would reduce our ability to help those who needed it. It could lead to de facto legalisation of drugs. To inform its deliberations, a public consultation was undertaken in 2018 which comprised of an online questionnaire, focus groups and an open policy debate. There were over 20,000 responses to the online questionnaire. This report also noted the growing dangers associated with cannabis use because of increased THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) levels, and stated the importance of all sectors working together to inform the public about the harms associated with cannabis use and all other illicit drugs.

The report of the Working Group can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7ccdec-the-working-group-to-consider-alternative-approaches-to-the-possessi/

Following consideration of the report of the Working Group, the Minister for Health, the Minster for Justice and Equality and I announced the adoption of a health-led approach to the possession of drugs for personal use. There are two components to this new Health Diversion Approach whereby a person in possession of drugs, determined by An Garda Síochána to be for personal use, on the first occasion would be referred by An Garda Síochána on a mandatory basis to the Health Service Executive for a health screening and brief intervention. On the second occasion, An Garda Síochána would have discretion to issue an Adult Caution.

The Health Diversion Approach seeks to connect drug users with health services and to support them on their path to recovery. It will also give individuals the opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction. A small implementation, monitoring and evaluation group has been set up to progress the Health Diversion Approach.

I acknowledge the very real dangers we are facing as a society in terms of cannabis use. Cannabis use by adolescents, in particular, is worrying as it poses risks of dependence and developing psychotic illness. We cannot be complacent about the risk to health posed by cannabis use. While we pursue our important public health approach to drug use in Ireland, there are no plans to legalise cannabis or any other illicit drugs.

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