Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is the second time today and the third time this week that I have discussed this particular issue with the Minister of State. I thank the Chairman for facilitating me, as a non-member, to participate in the meeting. I wish the Minister of State well with the conference to which he referred. It is important to hear the voices of those affected by this issue. However, his predecessors, as we know, also held conferences; it is time now for concentrated action. The national drugs strategy is not keeping up with reality, which the Minister of State knows from the projects he has visited and as he will have heard at the north inner city drugs task force meeting the other day.

The Minister of State referred in his opening statement to the need for legislation. There was reference to new Z drugs, such as zopiclone, which has the brand name Zimovane. The minute these types of drugs appear, they must be tested and immediately banned. We know, however, that as soon as they are controlled, other drugs will appear. Whatever legislation is put in place, it must include a mechanism whereby whenever a new substance appears, there is immediate testing of it. I acknowledge that the testing centres are under fierce pressure, which is another issue.

The Minister of State referred to people accessing treatment. The problem is that so many who need it are not, for a variety of reasons, accessing any treatment. In the case of a person who presents at accident and emergency with chest pains, for instance, we could string off a list of procedures and treatments they might be offered. When somebody presents at a hospital suffering from the effects of alcohol or drug abuse, there is usually some emergency treatment administered and the person is then discharged. More often that not, that person will be back in the accident and emergency department many times again. We are not providing enough treatment opportunities and options at that particular point of access, which, in many cases, is the main point of access to the health system for people in addiction.

The Minister of State gave a very blasé answer this morning to my question about alcohol services, saying he had never heard of a project that did not claim to be struggling. I am asking him to examine those projects where the evidence is that they are doing well. Staff and clients at Áit Linn are very excited about his upcoming visit. I met a group from that facility the other day who are in recovery from alcohol addiction. They spoke about the economic cost of their alcoholism by way of accident and emergency visits, hospitalisation, missed work, doctor visits, medication and so on. The cost of their residential treatment was either paid for by themselves or covered by the medical card and they are now back in work and paying their taxes. Some have their own businesses and are employing people. Furthermore, there is a knock-on beneficial effect for their families and communities and, in many cases, they are supporting others in recovery. Áit Linn receives funding of €150,000 a year. We need such a facility in every town in the country such is the extent of the abuse of alcohol and drugs in our society.

There has been talk since 2010 about making naloxone available for the treatment of patients with drug overdoses. Will the Minister of State indicate whether there is any progress in that regard?

On the question of decriminalisation, it is important that age be given due consideration as a factor. There are extenuating circumstances to consider when a young person is caught with a small quantity of an illegal substance. When we are young, we think we are immortal and will never be caught out. It is a totally different scenario when an adult is habitually engaged in criminal behaviour around drugs. Our emphasis must be on supporting young people to get off a criminal path that will have massive implications for their future.

The Minister of State mentioned the changing nature of the drug culture and the need for urgency in addressing the issues. I urge that he consider replicating on a broader scale those projects, some of which he has seen or will soon see for himself, that are working and making a difference.