The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the drug phenomenon in Europe and the responses to drug problems to help policy-makers and practitioners develop and implement effective policies and interventions. The recently published Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide¹ forms an important part of this overall picture and provides practitioners with a useful roadmap for managing interventions.

Responses can be defined as ‘any actions or interventions that are undertaken to address the negative consequences associated with the illicit drugs phenomenon’ (p. 9). Responses on the supply side are covered in the EU drug markets report.²

The authors of the guide were faced with a number of challenges. Within Europe the drug situation is very varied, many different drugs are being used, the contexts of this usage vary, and there are different stages of development of drug problems in different areas. So, there is no simple blueprint for the responses that should be put in place. Further, drug problems can change rapidly and vary over time, so a regular review of the policies and responses is necessary.

The National Family Support Network (NFSN)¹ is a self-help organisation supporting the development of family support groups and networks throughout Ireland. Through their work they raise awareness of the difficulties faced by families in coping with substance misuse, while recognising the important role that families play in supporting the recovery of the substance-misusing family member.

Autonomous national organisation

Although founded in 2000, 2017 marked the 10-year anniversary of the NFSN gaining recognition as an autonomous national organisation. To mark this date, friends and stakeholders gathered in St Andrew’s Resource Centre on Pearse Street, Dublin, on 6 December 2017, to hear speakers talk about the importance of the work that NFSN does. Speakers included Susan Scally from the Drugs Policy Unit of the Department of Health; Anna Quigley from CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign²; former Assistant Garda Commissioner Tony Hickey; researcher Philip Isard; family support facilitator Maureen Penrose; parent Brigid Sugrue; and the main speaker and founder, Sadie Grace.

The 8th Conference of the European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) was held in Vienna between 20 and 22 September 2017. As reported previously in Drugnet Ireland,¹ the EUSPR was established to promote ‘the development of prevention science, and its application to practice so as to promote human health and well-being through high quality research, evidence based interventions, policies and practices’.² The cornerstones of its work are a cross-disciplinary network of scientists, policy-makers and practitioners; the development of methodologies; the promotion of higher education and career development in prevention; and the implementation of research.

The study ‘It’s only weed’: rethinking our response to young people’s cannabis use in Ballymun was carried out by Ballymun Youth Action Project, and published in May 2017.¹ Service providers based in Ballymun, Dublin who work with early school-leavers (aged 16—24 years)² noticed that a cohort of young people were becoming increasingly difficult to motivate both to turn up for appointments and to engage with when attending key working sessions. It was decided to explore the factors that were impacting on retention and progression rates for this group. Through discussions among key stakeholders, cannabis use was identified as contributing to the problem; programme participants were reporting both ‘high levels of use and, for some, high levels of drug debt’ (p. 6). The research had two aims:

The report Stimulating and supporting a Black and minority ethnic voice on drug issues¹ was published in April 2017 by CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, the national network of community activities and organisations involved in responding to drug-related issues. The research aimed ‘to explore possible structures and processes through which to engage with, hear the voice of, and empower Black and minority ethnic communities in relation to issues of drug use’ (p. 5). It was carried out by Niall Crowley, an independent public policy researcher with particular expertise in human rights and equality.

The findings of the report are based on 14 interviews with those working in community-based drug service provision (n=9), and representatives of Black and minority ethnic (BME) organisations (n=5). The author also reviewed two pieces of earlier research that explored the issue of drug use among new communities in Ireland.^2,3

In October 2017, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) in association with the Irish Criminal Bar Association held a seminar and launched a PhD research project ‘Examining the comparative use, experience, and outcomes of community service orders as alternatives to short prison sentences in Ireland’ by Dr Kate O’Hara.¹

Background

Community service orders (CSOs) first emerged in Ireland following the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 1983 in December 1984.² According to this legislation, a CSO could only be enforced after imprisonment had been considered. With the aim of overcoming issues of underutilisation, reducing short-term prison (STP) stays, and helping offenders and the wider society, the Act was amended in 2011 to allow and encourage courts to impose a CSO as an alternative to short-term sentences (<12 months) as long as certain criteria were met.³

An Garda Síochána Annual Policing Plan 2017 identifies the main policing concerns for 2017.¹ Consistent with previous plans, it has considered the views of the community; An Garda Síochána (AGS); external stakeholders, including the Minister for Justice and Equality as well as the Garda Síochána Strategy Statement July 2016—2018;² ministerial directives; resource capacity; Joint Policing Committees; crime data analysis; and research. However, for the first time, in contrast to previous policing plans, priorities and targets have been agreed in talks between AGS and the Policing Authority, who will monitor how AGS will meet those targets. A number of areas have been highlighted by AGS in 2017: national and international security; confronting crime; roads policing; community engagement and public safety; and organisational development and capacity improvement.

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), originally known as the Forensic Science Laboratory, delivers a scientific service that supports the Irish criminal justice system by analysing samples that are gathered at crime scenes (e.g. DNA, chemistry, and drugs). Moreover, it presents expert evidence in court, provides training, and carries out research. In order to do this effectively, scientists and analysts within the FSI draw on best international standards. In May 2017, the FSI published their annual report, which provided an overview of work carried out in relation to drugs in the course of 2016.¹