National Drugs Strategy

What is it? 

It is Ireland’s strategy to reduce harm and support recovery which is a health led response that sets out the Governments strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in our society up to 2025. It identifies a set of key actions to be delivered between 2017 and 2020 and provides an opportunity to develop further actions from 2021 – 2025 to address the needs that may emerge later on in the lifetime of the strategy. Substance misuse means the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances including alcohol, illegal drugs and the abuse of prescription medicines. 

What are An Garda Síochána’s actions?

• Carry out evaluation of the Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme to strengthen its effectiveness and raise public awareness (completed)
• Consider the case for the use of community impact statements for the criminal justice system in Ireland
• Invest in capacity building measures to support the role of law enforcement authorities in monitoring drug markets, in particular new drug markets and the surface and dark web.
• Build on the achievements of Local Policing Fora in providing effective mechanisms for building and maintaining relationships between AGS and local communities.

More information on An Garda Síochana’s partner agencies actions can be found at www.health.gov.ie