The decriminalisation of drug use must be accompanied by a health-led response to addiction and a comprehensive plan to tackle poverty and deprivation, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.<\/p>\n
Deputy Gannon made his comments during today\u2019s D\u00e1il debate on the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation Bill 2022), which is being supported by the Social Democrats.<\/p>\n
He said:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor some time, my party has favoured a health-based approach to drugs. That is why we believe a policy of decriminalisation should be pursued in respect of the possession of drugs for personal use.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is welcome that the report of the Citizens\u2019 Assembly on Drug Use also reflects this position and includes a recommendation that a comprehensive health-led response should be implemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that turning people with addiction issues into criminals only serves to demonise them and deny them future opportunities. This is particularly true of communities with high levels of deprivation and disadvantage, which are disproportionately impacted by the negative effects of drug use.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe relationship between poverty and drug-related harms is well-established, but it\u2019s not enough to just recognise this fact \u2013 the Government must act. The war on drugs must be replaced with a war on the causes of poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the sharp end of drug-related issues is the homelessness crisis \u2013 11 per cent of drug-related deaths in 2020 occurred in homeless accommodation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence indicates that decriminalisation helps reduce the health risks associated with drug use. However, this alone cannot achieve a significant reduction. Any legislative change must occur in tandem with a range of other responses, including timely and adequate inpatient and outpatient addiction services.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch services must be supportive, not punitive, to allow those who continue to use drugs or relapse to retain access to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is now incumbent on the Government to urgently establish a special Oireachtas committee to examine the recommendations of the Citizens\u2019 Assembly on Drug Use and bring forward legislative proposals. The cannabis bill being debated here today could be considered in that context.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis committee must be established without delay. Otherwise, lives will continue to be ruined and lost under a system that criminalises what we know to be a health issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
January 31, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The decriminalisation of drug use must be accompanied by a health-led response to addiction and a comprehensive plan to tackle poverty and deprivation, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon made his comments during today\u2019s D\u00e1il debate on the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation Bill 2022), which is being supported by the Social […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[316,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gary-gannon","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n