Covid-19 pandemic presents particular challenges for people who are using drugs and for those providing services to vulnerable populations. Social distancing requirements are hampering effective operation of services and many treatment centres are temporarily closed. Many national and international organisations have highlighted the additional dangers faced by users of drugs services and have produced guidelines for drug treatment and harm reduction practitioners.

The Ana Liffey Drug Project (ALDP) has published a report, Ireland and the human rights of people who use drugs,¹ that discusses the Government’s proposed health diversion approach (HDA) to the possession of drugs for personal use within the context of human rights.

On 13 November 2019, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), in conjunction with Safeguarding Ireland, published Guidance on a human rights-based approach in health and social care services.¹ Its overall purpose is to ‘promote a human rights-based approach to care and support for adults in health and social care services’ (p. 4),¹ including those working in the addiction services. Taking a human rights-based approach to the delivery of care services is a requirement of public body staff and organisations under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, where Section 42 of the Act created a ‘public sector duty’ that requires public bodies to take proactive steps to promote equality, protect human rights, and fight discrimination in relation to their functions and powers.² However, practitioners experienced difficulties with translating the principles of human rights into their day-to-day practice and service delivery. HIQA’s guidance aims to bridge that gap.

In November 2019, the Department of Justice and Equality published the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019–2021.¹ As with the National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy 2018–2020,² the new strategy aims to provide a strategic framework for ‘identifying and addressing issues which may prevent LGBTI+ people from enjoying full equality in practice in Irish society’ (p. 3).¹ The strategy provides a structure in which:

• LGBTI+ groups can identify issues that persist in creating an environment of inequality.
• Government, public agencies, business groups, employer and employee representatives, and civil society can work together to resolve these issues.

It is structured around four thematic pillars, under each of which are a set of outcomes to be achieved and a set of associated actions

As this issue of Drugnet Ireland goes to print, we are in the 11th week of the extraordinary measures introduced by the Government in response to the Covid-19 crisis. This global pandemic is affecting most of the world’s population in some way. Many have lost loved ones, are ill themselves, or enduring severe difficulties through loss of income. Most of the citizens of scores of countries across the world are largely confined to their own homes and many face the isolation of quarantine. Our healthcare workers and those in essential services face additional threats to their health every day. The gratitude expressed to them and the countless instances of kindness and care since this emergency began are reassuring signs of decency and a sense of community. These will be essential resources as we face the difficult months ahead.

The Department of Health has published the 12th edition of Health in Ireland: Key trends 2019.¹ Using data from newly available sources, the report highlights selected trends in drug, alcohol, and tobacco consumption as well as the number of individuals entering treatment in Ireland for problem drug and alcohol use between 2009 and 2018.

The Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force (BLDATF) is one of 14 local drug and alcohol task forces (LDATFs) established in 1997 in response to high levels of drug misuse within Irish communities. BLDATF is responsible for implementing the National Substance Misuse Strategy¹ and facilitating a more coordinated response in tackling drug and alcohol use and misuse in Dublin 15. In order to adapt and change services in a thorough and comprehensive manner, the Blanchardstown Drug and Alcohol Trends Monitoring System (DATMS) was established in 2015 to provide a better knowledge of drug-related harms in the area. The specific objective of DATMS is to establish an evidence base for drug use in Dublin 15 and use these data to inform local service provision.

A recent report documents Year 4 of DATMS.² The Year 1 reporting period began in June 2014; Year 2 began in June 2015; Year 3 relates to 2017; and Year 4 to 2018. The DATMS report employs a mixed-method design comprising primary and secondary data sources. Key findings from the report are discussed below.

The Judicial Council Act 2019 was enacted on 23 July 2019.¹ The Act provides for the establishment of a Judicial Council. The council, which will be an independent body, will promote and maintain excellence and high standards. In addition, it will provide a statutory basis for the training of judges and for the investigation of complaints against judges. Under the provisions of the Act, the Judicial Council will also be responsible for establishing several subcommittees.

A statutory instrument, SI No. 262/2019 – Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019, was signed on 26 June 2019. These regulations allow for the use of certain cannabis products for the treatment of persons with certain medical conditions when under the care of a medical consultant.

The Parole Act 2019 was enacted on 23 July 2019.¹ The purpose of the Act is to confer responsibility for granting parole upon an independent statutory body. It is divided into three parts. Part 1 addresses preliminary and general matters; Part 2 addresses the Parole Board, its powers, and compositions; and Part 3 deals with parole applications, guiding principles, and the parole process.

On 3 January 2020, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) published a provisional review of fatal collisions for 2019.^1,2 The report is the result of analysis of fatality data received from An Garda Síochána. The results in this analysis are provisional and may be subject to change. The report first provides an overview followed by more in-depth analysis by month of year; day of week; time of day; where fatalities occurred; age profile; road user type; and age profile by road user type. Drugs were not mentioned in this analysis.