Mr. Michael Mason:

The Deputy asked about the new national drug strategy. When the most recent one was reviewed, all the answers were in that. It spoke about collective inputs and the importance of embedding stakeholder voices, the lived experience within that and the continuous improvement of drug policy. It also talked about how community-led and peer-driven initiatives were highlighted as promising and promoting recovery and reducing stigma. It then talked about the inconsistency and the frequently underfunded implementation. We are again going back. The answers are in the last review. We need the voice there. The voice of the families was in the previous strategy. It was supposed to be part of the national oversight committee, NOC. Since the last national family support network closed, that voice has not been there for the last number of years. It needs to be back in. The lived experience has to be in there as part of the policy decisions and of the implementation. It is not just a matter of writing it. It has to be implemented.