Action must be taken on drug injection centres

Labour spokesperson on Health Promotion and Drugs Strategy, Councillor Martina Genockey, has broadly welcomed the National Drugs Strategy but said Minister Catherine Byrne must accelerate efforts on drug injection centres.

Commenting on the National Drugs Strategy, Cllr Genockey said:

“I broadly welcome the positive measures included in the National Drugs Strategy that wish to include local accessibility to treatment. The drugs crisis that is affecting every corner of this country and the measures included in the National Drugs Strategy include a greater focus on families and communities.

“The inclusion of Labour’s injection centre proposals are very welcome, but we need to see the Minister start the process of issuing the licence to potential service providers. The legislation to establish drug injection centres passed nearly two months ago. Further delays are not acceptable.

“A medically supervised injecting centre is not the answer to the drug problem, but could form part of a suite of harm reduction measures, as a way of managing the problem.

“Those who need these services deserve humane and compassionate treatment. If someone is crippled by addiction they deserve the care and compassion of this state.