17/05/2016

Govt Must Appoint Dedicated Drugs Minister - Labour

Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the government to appoint a dedicated Drugs Minister.

Senator Ó Ríordáin said that the current drugs crisis is "affecting every corner of this country" and that a dedicated drugs minister was needed to tackle it.

"I was proud as Drugs Minister in the last government to be able to pursue new policies and to see them get cabinet approval - most notably the adoption of the Medically Supervised Injecting Rooms as part of a harm reduction approach," Senator Ó Ríordáin said.

"We also need an adult conversation about pursuing the Portuguese model which invests heavily in treatment rather than wasting resources on a criminal justice approach.

"In 2013 679 people died in Ireland as a result of drug and alcohol related causes. Only last month two men died from overdoses on the streets of our capital city with hardly any public comment.

"Only a dedicated minister with an open-minded approach can begin to tackle this menace. He or she will receive the Labour Party's full support if these progressive policies are followed."

(MH/LM)

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