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Substance Misuse

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022

Tuesday, 12 July 2022

Ceisteanna (967)

Gino Kenny

Ceist:

967. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recently published report from the Health Research Board, National Drug Treatment Reporting System: 2015-2021 Drug Treatment Data, showing rapidly increasing drug use in Ireland; and if he will consider a different legal approach based on decriminalisation. [35957/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Drug Treatment Report System (NDTRS), published by the Health Research Board in June of this year, presents trends on treatment for problem drug use (excluding alcohol) for the seven-year period from 2015 to 2021. The data are drawn from the National Drug Treatment Reporting System, the national surveillance system that records and reports on cases of drug and alcohol treatment in Ireland.

The report demonstrates the continuing demand for health services to address the harmful effects of drug use, the types of drugs that are most impactful on people who require treatment, and the social factors associated with problematic drug use.

The increase in treatment services reflects the government’s commitment to a public health response to drug use and the additional resources committed to services in 2021. The total numbers receiving treatment in the community has increased, with 70% of cases now treated in outpatient facilities. The provision of healthcare services in the community is a key tenet of the Sláintecare approach.

The commitment remains to expanding the provision of community-based services in conjunction with drug and alcohol task forces and the HSE. Funding of over €2m has also been made available through the Community Services Enhancement Fund which will have a particular focus on women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community.

The National Drugs Strategy sets out a health-led approach to drug use. It promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with drug use treated first and foremost as a public health issue. The Programme for Government endorses this health-led approach. By treating the use of substances as a public health issue, rather than solely as a criminal issue, we can better help individuals, their families and the communities in which we live.

The Government established a working group to consider alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use in December 2017. The work programme of the group consisted of meetings with experts from other countries, commissioning research on other jurisdictions and undertaking a public consultation. The consultation process received a response of over 20,000 people and included the views of many people who use drugs.

The working group examined the option of decriminalising drugs. The report did not deem this an appropriate option in the Irish context due to legal difficulties (which could lead to the de facto legalisation of drugs), and operational problems for An Garda Síochána. The report of the working group was published in 2019 and is available here.

The Government accepted the views of the working group on the decriminalisation of drugs. Accordingly, there are no plans to decriminalise drugs.

As part of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, I announced six strategic priorities for the remaining years of the strategy until 2025. These will strengthen the health-led approach to drug use, as agreed in the Programme for Government, and align with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan. The fifth priority is to reinforce the health-led, rather than criminal justice-led, approach to people who use of drugs and who commit drug-related crimes. The main focus will be on the rollout of the government health diversion programme for people in possession of drugs for personal use, which will offer compassion not punishment. Other initiatives, such as the drug treatment courts, will also be supported. A particular emphasis will be on the exchange of best practice on alternatives to coercive sanctions with EU member states.

Question No. 968 answered with Question No. 181.
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