Fianna Fáil has published a National Drugs Action Plan to respond to the escalating drugs crisis, the changes in patterns of drug abuse and the worrying lack of coordination between existing services.
The plan is as a result of extensive consultation with groups, agencies and individuals working to tackle drug abuse at community level.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice Niall Collins explained, “There is an overwhelming sense that the drugs crisis has slipped off the Government’s agenda. A complete lack of political leadership has created a crisis in services on the ground and a breakdown of communication between the relevant bodies at community level.
“Fianna Fáil’s first proposal is to reappoint a Minister for Drugs with responsibility for pulling together all the existing services in the areas of health, justice, social services and local government. At the moment communication between these services is on an ad hoc basis at best, and services are often operating in isolation or even in conflict with one another. There is a desperate need for political leadership to create workable structures and close the gaping hole that’s emerged between policy makers and service providers on the ground.
“We are also proposing radical changes in the national response to the drugs crisis, which is currently too focused on treatment for heroin addicts. In reality there has been a seismic shift away from opiate use, with the numbers of new heroin addicts on the decrease. However there is an escalating crisis with poly-drug use and with the abuse of a particularly strong, synthetic form of cannabis that can create anxiety, depression and psychosis. The sale and abuse of prescription drugs has also infiltrated every community across the country.
Source: fiannafail.ie, 16/04/15
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