Following the reorganisation of government departments announced on 23 March 2010, the Office of the Minister for Drugs (OMD) is now located in the new Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCEGA). Chief Whip Pat Carey TD (pictured), who was Minister of State with responsibility for drugs strategy and community affairs for 11 months between June 2007 and May 2008, was appointed Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, including responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy and the OMD. 

‘She knew not to go near me in the morning ’til I had my foil, then ‘mummy would play’. In the mornings the sickness was the worst … I’d just be telling her to get away. Once I had the gear [drugs] into me I’d be the best mother on the earth.’

These words were spoken by a mother of a four-year-old girl interviewed as part of a research study in Ireland published last year. It is quoted in a new EMCDDA thematic paper on European children’s experiences and perceptions of drug and alcohol issues, published to mark International Children’s Day on 1 June.¹

Legislation

On 11 May the Irish government moved to control the sale of psychoactive substances in head shops and on line using a two-fold strategy: amendments to the list of controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984, and the newly drafted Criminal Law (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 which will prevent the sale of substances created to get around existing laws.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan 2010 sets out the agency’s plans in the drugs and alcohol area for 2010.¹ HSE Drug and Alcohol Services are delivered as part of HSE Social Inclusion Services, which also include homeless services, services for minority ethnic communities, Traveller health services, community development, HSE RAPID and CLAR programmes, HIV/STI services, services for LGBT communities, and community welfare services.