The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use is disappointed that their recommendations have not been acted upon, the Joint Committee on Drugs Use has heard.
Paul Reid, who chaired the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs, is appearing before the committee this morning.
“Organised crime gangs are inflicting drug-related intimidation and violence in cities, towns and villages across Ireland, and are luring vulnerable young people into criminality at an early age,” Mr Reid said.
“We can clearly tell that vulnerable groups and disadvantaged communities suffer disproportionately.”
He said the Citizens’ Assembly wanted to break the cycle of criminality associated with drug use and the state’s response has not evolved in decades.
“We were stunned by the length of time it takes to introduce even modest changes,” he added.
“Simply criminalising people is no way to deal with the problem.”
Mr Reid urged the government to act at pace, noting that the 2019 programme for Government included plans to adopt a health-led approach, rather than moving people through the criminal justice system.
He said the Citizens Assembly had gone further than that, and recommended diversion and dissuasion measures.
“We really urge that a dedicated Cabinet committee be set up…chaired by An Taoiseach,” Mr Reid said.
Ireland is an outlier in Europe for drug deaths, he added.
“If you look at 2020…Ireland ranks as the worst in the EU for drug deaths,” he said.
Professor Jo-Hanna Ivers told the committee many communities in Ireland are fighting for resources.
“If you’ve got a person that’s addicted because they’re who’s living in poverty and is addicted and you treat the addiction, you’re doing nothing about the poverty,” she said, calling for a “whole of government approach”.
