National Drugs Strategy Conference
by Brigid Pike
On 16 January 2014 the Department of Health hosted a half-day conference for those in the government, statutory, community and voluntary sectors working in the drugs and alcohol field. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD (pictured) and Minister of State Alex White TD addressed the conference. They were followed by Fergus McCabe of CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign and Tony Duffin of Ana Liffey Drug Project (ALDP), representing the community and voluntary sectors.
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Health Research Board welcomes new CEO
by HRB Communications Office
Dr Graham Love took over as chief executive of the Health Research Board (HRB) at the end of March. He replaces Enda Connolly, who retired on 31 January 2014 after more than five years in the position.
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Supporting local efforts to tackle drug problems
by Brigid Pike (compiler)
On 23 January 2014 the new National Co-ordinating Committee for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (NCC) held its inaugural meeting. Its purpose is to guide the work of the task forces and drive implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2009–2016 (NDS) locally. It is the successor to the Drugs Advisory Group, established under the NDS,1 and to the National Drugs Strategy Team, which was incorporated in the 2001–2008 national drugs strategy.2
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Drug strategy to be evaluated
by Brigid Pike
In December 2013 the Home Office published an evaluation framework,1 developed to assess the effectiveness and value for money (VFM) of the English and Welsh Drug Strategy 2010, which expires in 2015.2
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Dáil debate on cannabis
by Brigid Pike
For the first time since 2006, Irish politicians have had a full debate on the drugs issue, specifically on a private member’s motion to regulate the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis and cannabis products.3 They voted 112 to 8 in favour of a government amendment that recognised the health risks associated with cannabis and its role as a ‘gateway’ drug, recognised that leniency in cannabis control could endanger overall international efforts against drugs, to which Ireland is signed up under the 1961 and 1971 UN drug conventions, and endorsed current government policy ‘to maintain strict legal controls on cannabis and cannabis products in Ireland’.
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