Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Health

National Drugs Strategy

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1909. To ask the Minister for Health if, after consideration of the data by the relevant departmental group, he will publish the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy; and if so, the date for publication. [19272/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy is a dynamic strategy and contains 50 actions which are to be delivered over the period 2017-2020.

The Department has commenced a mid-term review of the actions in the strategy, in consultation with stakeholders. The review provides an opportunity to reflect on progress in implementing the strategy from 2017 to 2020, progress achieved to-date under the action plan, any new issues that have arisen including the impact of Covid-19 and to consider the development of new actions to address emerging needs and challenges.

The review will be informed by a focussed policy assessment of expenditure on drugs and alcohol services being carried out by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), new data on trends and indicators in drug and alcohol for 2019/2020, and the impact of Covid-19 on drug and alcohol services.

It will also reflect commitments in the Programme for Government for a health-led approach to drug use and misuse and the new EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025.

The national oversight committee gives leadership and direction to support the strategy. The committee has membership from statutory, voluntary and community sector and is chaired by me as Minister for State. The committee has received regular updates on the mid-term review and a draft report will be presented to a special meeting of the committee in May for its consideration.

The review when finalised will be brought to Government for approval. Publication of the review and supporting documents will follow soon thereafter.

I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the national drugs strategy is relevant and appropriate to address the societal challenges arising from the use of drugs, especially for children and young people and for those at greatest risk of harm.

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