Sinn Féin spokesperson on National Drug & Alcohol Strategy, Addiction, Recovery and Wellbeing, Ann Graves TD, has said that the independent evaluation of the National Drug Strategy must serve as a wake-up call for government.
Deputy Graves said that the report confirmed what many of the service providers relayed to her, including recurring concerns regarding the lack of multi-annual funding, lack of inter-agency cooperation and communities being excluded from decision making.
The Dublin Fingal East TD said, “the publication of the independent evaluation of the National Drugs Strategy must serve as a wake-up call to the government.”
“Alcohol, drugs, gambling have all taken their toll on families and communities right across Ireland.”
“The evaluation carried out by Grant Thorton highlights some of the serious challenges facing this government. It identifies critical areas that need to be addressed,” she said.
“Challenges facing this government include integration of mental health and addiction services, increased community engagement and service user involvement, the need for interdepartmental collaboration and tackling drug-related intimidation.
“I have had a number of round table discussions with rehabilitation projects, activists and academics and I have visited community based drug projects. This report only confirms what many of the services relayed to me. Recurring concerns have been the lack of multi-annual funding, lack of inter-agency cooperation and communities being excluded from decision making.
Graves said “these will only be resolved if tackling the causes and consequences of the drugs crisis becomes a political priority for this government. So far we have not seen any sign of this. I sincerely hope this report will be that wake-up call.”
“Addiction needs to be seen as a public health issue and not a criminal issue. The Citizens Assembly on Drug Use supported a comprehensive health led response to drug use and addiction. This would ensure the state responds to drug use as a health issue, not as a criminal issue.
“A comprehensive health led response diverts people towards health services and away from the criminal system. This health led response will greatly reduce or eliminate prospects of being charged and convicted. For this to be successful, the Minister for Health must adequately fund and resource addiction services. Multi-annual funding will be a cornerstone of this success.
“Funding for local and regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforces has to return to pre-recession levels to ensure sustained and appropriate funding increases every year to continue service development.
“The forthcoming National Drug Strategy, which is to be published this year, is an opportunity to seriously address the drug crisis. The government must be ambitious and progressive if the recommendations from this report are to be realised. This will require a whole of government approach to addiction, mental health, community safety and tackling poverty.”