National Drugs Strategy (interim) 2009 – 2016
Executive summary
In late 2007, a review of the National Drugs Strategy 2001 - 2008 got underway. The overall objective of the review was to examine the progress and impact made under the current Strategy and make recommendations for the period 2009 - 2016, which the new Strategy will cover. A Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, managed and oversaw the process.
An extensive consultation process process was undertaken as part of the review to give individuals and groups an opportunity to outline their views on the effectiveness of the current policy and what the priorities for the new Strategy should be. An overview of the issues raised under the different areas - which the Steering Group had regard to in their deliberations - is outlined in the various chapters.
A key finding from the review is that the current approach to tackling problem drug use in Ireland - which has developed around the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research - continues to be relevant and appropriate. The proposals and actions under the new Strategy, therefore, are based around the existing pillar structure.
The Steering Group also had regard to the current nature and scale of the drug problem in Ireland, which has undergone some notable changes over the lifetime of the current Strategy. The primary focus when the current policy was drawn up in 2001 was on the opiate problem, primarily in Dublin. While the prevalence of heroin has ameliorated to an extent in the Dublin area, this has been offset to a degree by its wider dispersal around the country. In addition, there is now widespread public conern regarding the misuse of cocaine, particularly when combined with other illegal substances and alcohol.
Widespread public concern was also expressed during the consultation process about the problem use of alcohol - both as a stand - alone public health issue and in association with illicit drugs. On 31st March 2009, the Government approved the developmeny of a combined National Substance Misuse Strategy to cover both alcohol adn drugs. This Report is, therefore, an interim Strategy pending the development of the combined Strategy. This is due to be developed by the end of 2010 and will incorporate the material in this Report, which is the agreed drugs element of it.
National Drugs Strategy (interim) 2009 - 2016 (2009:5)
The overall objective for the National Drugs Strategy 2009 – 2016 is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The strategic aims of the National Drugs Strategy are to:
- To create a safer society through the reduction of the supply and availability of drugs for illicit use;
- To minimise problem drug use throughout society;
- To provide appropriate and timely substance treatment and rehabilitation services (including harm reduction services) tailored to individual needs;
- To ensure the availability of accurate, timeoly, relevant and comparable data on the extent and nature of problem substance use in Ireland; and
- To have in place an efficient and effective framework for implementing the National Substance Misuse Strategy 2009 - 2016.
National Drugs Strategy (interim) 2009 - 2016 (2009:6)
History of the MRDTF
Under the governments national drugs strategy 2001-2008 the Midland Regional Drugs Task Force (MRDTF) is one of ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) set up across the country in 2003 by Minister Noel Ahern T.D. to deliver a more co-ordinated response in tackling the problem of drug misuse.
The midland RDTF was established in 2003 with the guidance and support of the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) under the aegis of the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA), the lead government department for the National Drugs Strategy 2001 – 2008. After undertaking a comprehensive consultation process in the Region, the Midland RDTF working with its co-ordinators drew up the first Midland RDTF Action Plan 2006 - 2008.
The geographic area that is covered by the MRDTF is counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. The role of the taskforce as set out in the National Drug Strategy is to research, develop, implement and monitor a co-ordinated response to illicit drug use at regional level, based on best evidence of what statutory, voluntary and community sectors, through the deployment of a single, integrated plan, which all organisations and agencies statutory, voluntary and community are committed to implementing. The Midland Regional Drug Taskforce Action Plan 2006-2008 is structured around the four pillars of:
- Supply Reduction
- Prevention (including education and awareness)
- Treatment (including rehabilitation and risk education)
- Research
Supported by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs