The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, is a health-led response to drug and alcohol use, and it runs from 2017 to 2025. The Strategic action plan for 2023-2024, contains 34 actions across six strategic priorities. Three of the strategic priorities have a focus on alcohol use:
• strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children and young people,• enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community and• develop harm reduction responses and integrated care pathways for high risk drug users.
The Department intends to commission an independent evaluation of the strategy in Q4 2024. It is expected that the evaluation will be completed in early 2025. The proposed timeframe for the finalisation of the new national drugs strategy is the first quarter of 2025.
As the Deputy notes, the remit of the national drugs strategy does not include alcohol related brain injury. If there is a concern that someone may be affected by alcohol related brain injury, they should contact their GP or medical professional. Useful guides for families and medical professionals are available at Alcohol Related Brain Injury (ARBI) - Alcohol Forum Ireland (alcoholforum.org/alcohol-related-brain-injury-arbi/)
I am fully aware of the harms of alcohol and drug use. It is my ambition that the next national drugs strategy will reduce the use of drugs and alcohol, meet the growing demand for treatment services for problematic drug and alcohol use and support recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
