Could Ireland See A Decriminalisation Of Drugs?

A major shift in Ireland's approach to drug policy could be on the horizon following the publication of a landmark report by the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use.   The committee is recommending that possession of drugs for personal use should be decriminalised, and that Ireland adopts a more health-led approach to tackling addiction and substance misuse.   The report contains 161 recommendations, including expanded treatment services, greater access to harm reduction measures, and increased support for people affected by addiction.   Meanwhile, the Taoiseach says the government will give serious consideration to the recommendations of the Oireachtas report.   He was responding to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who said the Government was not taking a health-led approach to the issue.  Micheal Martin said a health referral scheme will be introduced shortly for those found to be in possession of illicit drugs, saying the report will be fully examined. To discuss what these proposals could mean in practice, Alan Morrissey was joined by Midwest-based addiction counsellor Michael Guerin. Photo (c) Towfiqu barbhuiya from Pexels via Canva