Ireland’s moving towards a health-led response to drug use.
It’s an approach which was endorsed by the recent Citizens’ Assembly on drug use – and involves alternatives to traditional sentencing.
A new report out today shows the benefit of schemes that tackle the cause of drug-use, and divert offenders into programmes that can help them tackle their issues.
This report launched today by Junior Minister Colm Burke, identifies nine current alternatives for people found in possession of controlled drugs for personal use.
They include Garda cautions, Drug Treatment Courts offering support instead of custody – and various assisted-recovery plans.
Evidence from other countries shows promising evidence that this type of approach reduces drug use and reoffending.
Today’s report highlights enthusiasm for the approach here among the judiciary and probation workers – but it also highlights that access to such schemes can vary nationwide.
