Dr. Liam Mac Gabhann:

There are two parallels. We need to realise that dual diagnosis of substance use is not confined to illegal substances. A wide approach is necessary, one that includes alcohol and prescribed drugs. We induce dual diagnosis in some of the treatments we provide. It is more of a parallel process. As Mr. Williams said, as long as services are enabled to provide a harm-reduction approach despite the criminality involved in a minor element of substance use, we can deal with people. There are examples of this in Dublin and across the rest of Ireland where people are providing a harm-reduction approach that technically flies in the face of the criminalisation of drugs but does not fly in the face of harm reduction, for example, needle exchanges and acknowledging that people are using illegal substances. These services are being enabled as we speak and should be enabled further. As long as we as service providers are not prevented in this, the parallel argument can continue.