Oireachtas committee to resume discussion on health-led approach to drug use

Eva Osborne

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use will meet on Thursday to resume discussion on a health-led approach to drug use.

The meeting will take place with representatives from addiction services The SAOL Project and Merchants Quay Ireland.

It will also hear contributions from Dr Sharon Lambert of University College Cork, Dr Richard Healy, a research and policy officer with AHEAD, and Dr Barry Cullen, researcher and educator in community services.

Ahead of the meeting, committee cathaoirleach Gino Kenny TD said: “When we speak about drug use in public domains, we focus on the people who are experiencing chronic substance dependence - estimated to be between 10 to 25 per cent of people who use drugs.

"This week we will hear from witnesses who will focus on the broader spectrum of drug use within our society. SAOL is a project for women who use substances and are working towards positive change in their lives.

"Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) is a registered charity and a front-line service providing services to people who are in addiction, who may also be experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental health issues, and last year over 13,500 people came to MQI for support."

Mr Kenny said the committee will also hear from health professionals, researchers and educators working across Ireland who aim to adopt a "compassionate health-led approach" to delivering services which reduce harm and support recovery.

“We look forward to resuming our discussions with a meeting on a health-led approach to drug-use and welcome the opportunity to further discuss the recommendations made by the Citizen's Assembly.”

The Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use recommended that while possession of illicit drugs should remain illegal, those found in possession should be given “first and foremost, extensive opportunities to engage voluntarily with health-led services”.

The Oireachtas joint committee was established in April to examine those recommendations and produce a report with a series of actions for the Government.