Report on Public Consultation undertaken to inform the new National Drugs Strategy May 2017 rpsgroup.com/ireland Report on Public Consultation to Inform the New National Drugs Strategy TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 EXISTING NATIONAL DRUGS STRATEGY ............................................................................................... 5 1.2 ROLES 6 1.2.1 Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy ............................... 6 1.2.2 National Drugs Strategy Steering Committee ................................................................... 6 1.2.3 Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (LDATFs) ............................................. 7 1.3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW NATIONAL DRUGS STRATEGY ..................................................................... 8 1.3.1 Public Consultation ............................................................................................................ 8 2 PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS ..................................................................................... 10 2.1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 PUBLIC CONSULTATION OBJECTIVES .............................................................................................. 11 2.3 PROMOTION OF THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ..................................................................................... 11 2.3.1 Launch and Announcement of the Public Consultation .................................................. 12 2.3.2 Engagement with Media ................................................................................................. 13 2.3.3 Social Media .................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.4 Advertising ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.5 Website ........................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.6 Elected Representatives .................................................................................................. 14 2.3.7 Other Stakeholder Groups .............................................................................................. 14 2.4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION METHODS .................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Regional Consultation Events .......................................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Public Consultation Questionnaire .................................................................................. 16 2.4.3 Dedicated phone line ...................................................................................................... 16 2.4.4 Surface mail address ....................................................................................................... 16 2.4.5 Electronic mail address ................................................................................................... 17 2.4.6 Youth Questionnaire ....................................................................................................... 17 2.5 LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION ............................................................................................................... 18 2.5.1 Who Responded to the Questionnaire ........................................................................... 19 3 FEEDBACK ON STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE NATIONAL DRUGS STRATEGY .............. 20 3.1 NATIONAL DRUGS STRTATEGY 2009‐2016 ...................................................................................... 20 i Report on Public Consultation to Inform the New National Drugs Strategy 3.1.1 Pillar Structure of the Existing Strategy ........................................................................... 22 3.2 NEW NATIONAL DRUGS STRATEGY .................................................................................................. 23 3.2.1 Management and Roles for Driving the Strategy ............................................................ 24 3.2.2 Harmful Drugs in the Community ................................................................................... 25 3.2.3 Inclusion of Alcohol in the Strategy ................................................................................. 26 3.2.4 Funding and Resources ................................................................................................... 26 3.2.5 Rural and Urban Issue ..................................................................................................... 27 3.2.6 Poverty and Homelessness.............................................................................................. 27 3.2.7 Harm Reduction............................................................................................................... 27 3.2.8 Substance Misuse and Mental Health among Adolescents ............................................ 27 3.2.9 Dual Diagnosis ................................................................................................................. 28 3.2.10 Service User Involvement ......................................................................................... 28 3.2.11 Population Health Approach ..................................................................................... 29 3.2.12 Indicators .................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.13 Role of Awareness in Prevention .............................................................................. 30 3.2.14 Recovery .................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.15 Other Recurring Issues Raised for Consideration in the New Strategy .................... 31 3.3 FEEDBACK FROM POLITICAL PARTIES ................................................................................................. 32 3.4 FEEDBACK ON THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS ........................................................................... 33 4 SUPPLY REDUCTION .......................................................................................................... 35 4.1 AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS IN IRELAND ................................................................................................. 35 4.2 AVAILABILITY OF ILLICIT DRUGS IN IRELAND ........................................................................................ 35 4.3 ROLES IN REDUCING AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS ...................................................................................... 37 4.4 MEASURES TO REDUCE THE SUPPLY OF ILLICIT DRUGS IN IRELAND .......................................................... 39 4.4.1 Illicit Drugs ....................................................................................................................... 39 4.4.2 Supply Reduction is One Part of the Solution ................................................................. 39 4.4.3 Drug Use is a Health Issue Not a Criminal Issue .............................................................. 39 4.4.4 Treating the Demand ...................................................................................................... 40 4.4.5 Early Intervention ............................................................................................................ 40 4.4.6 Education ......................................................................................................................... 40 4.4.7 Mental Health .................................................................................................................. 42 4.4.8 Community ...................................................................................................................... 42 4.4.9 Society and Policy ............................................................................................................ 42 4.4.10 Prohibition................................................................................................................. 43 ii Report on Public Consultation to Inform the New National Drugs Strategy 4.4.11 Decriminalisation of Drugs ........................................................................................ 44 4.4.12 Legalisation of Drugs ................................................................................................. 45 4.4.13 Classification of Drugs ............................................................................................... 47 4.4.14 Cannabis/Marijuana .................................................................................................. 47 4.4.15 Drug Debt Intimidation ............................................................................................. 48 4.4.16 Drug Related Violence ............................................................................................... 48 4.4.17 Prescription Medication ............................................................................................ 49 4.4.18 Over‐the‐counter (OTC) Medication ........................................................................