Ireland has taken many steps to tackle drugs, including the formulation of the national drugs strategy. Since 1996 the Government strategy on drug misuse has been based on the recommendations and policies of the two reports of the ministerial task force on measures to reduce the demand for drugs. The overall aim of the current strategy is to provide an effective and integrated response to drug misuse and this is reflected in a partnership working with the communities most affected by the problem. The current drugs strategy covers the period 2001 to 2008 and the objectives and actions involve a range of specific commitments from various Departments and agencies against which progress is measured. Priority continues to be given to those areas where heroin problems have been identified. Encouraging progress has been made in recent years and the local drugs task forces continue to be a central vehicle for key actions under the strategy.