Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Rural Independent Group welcomes the opportunity to speak about the new Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use which has been established by the Government. While it is due to start in April and conclude before the end of the year, I argue against its formation and for why we think it is a waste of time and money. First, drug use has a significant impact on society, imposing significant health and financial costs. However, involving a group of hand-picked citizens in decision-making on drugs policy is not wholly appropriate. This process represents a cover for a Government that has failed to invest in addiction services and drugs education, particularly for those who are less well-off. Local community groups, GAA clubs and families are struggling to gain access to these services. The Government could immediately intervene and invest in these services today. Setting up an assembly will do nothing but delay and postpone any governmental action to provide the much-needed supports to local communities that is required.

My colleagues and I in the Rural Independent Group fully support a health-led approach to drugs which focuses on treating drug addiction as a health issue, rather than a criminal justice issue. This approach recognises that drug addiction is a complex medical condition that requires treatment and support, rather than punishment. However, in tandem with that, while decriminalisation of drugs is often seen as a solution to the harms of drug use, it is not necessarily required for a health-led approach to be effective. Decriminalisation may remove criminal penalties for drug use, but it does not necessarily address the underlying health issues that lead to addiction. A health-led approach to drugs can be achieved through a range of strategies such as harm reduction, access to evidence-based treatments and support services for people who use drugs. These strategies aim to reduce the harms associated with drug use, including overdose and transmission of blood-borne diseases, while addressing the root cause of addiction.

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