New members of Alcoholics Anonymous introduce themselves by their name and their admission of addiction. We all get the idea behind it: in order to address a problem, it is first necessary to recognise it. And though I don’t want to rain on anyone’s Christmas party, Ireland has a drug problem.
Last week, the Health Research Board (HRB) published a report on Drug Related Deaths over the last decade. It appears there has been quite a shift in drug-related deaths from 2008-2017. And it is fair to say that deaths represent the thin end of the wedge. It is probably not just a shift in drug-related deaths. Overall drug usage has also risen.
Taxpayers’ money is used to fund health research of this kind. Needless to say, I think it is worth the expense if we use the information to inform health and social policy. But this report has drawn limited comment. It is in danger of being ignored.
Source: Orla Muldoon, Irish Times, 19th December 2019
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
