Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use

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Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>A teenage girl smoking crystal meth by 'cooking' it in a pipe in Queens, New York. Experts have told the 'Irish Examiner' that meth is relatively rare in Ireland but warn that it could become a major issue. File picture: Scott Houston/Sygma/Corbis</p>

news

Crystal meth warning after record Cork seizure of 'America's most dangerous drug'

Gardaí and others working with people addiction sound the alarm after an estimated 500kg of methamphetamine was found in Cork

<p>'Affordable housing will only ever be the punchline of a joke if it’s not attainable to every single person in the country.' Stock picture: Gareth Fuller/PA</p>

yourview

Letters to the Editor: Ireland's housing crisis is a shortage of political will

<p>'To help us to understand why our drugs policy is not working and what kind of change is needed, we need to hear the stories of people who are living with the impact of our current approach.'</p>

news

People on 'drugs frontline' share their own stories

A small pile of white powder on a dark surface

court and crime

Irish gangs meet drug cartels on distribution of lethal fentanyl in Ireland

Teenage mental health stock

court and crime

Pilot interventions planned to tackle grooming of children into drugs trade

A drug syringe and a spoon with cooked heroin

comment-analysis

Drug use needs to be handled with empathy and evidence

Tony Duffin: Irish drug policy is following a similar path to Portugal — but nothing has happened yet

Tony Duffin: Irish drug policy is following a similar path to Portugal — but nothing has happened yet

As the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use begins its work in earnest, it’s important to consider that effective drug policy is informed by three elements —empathy, evidence and experience, writes Tony Duffin

Sun, 16 Apr, 2023

FRANCE-DEMO-DRUG-CANNABIS

Cannabis is being adulterated with dangerous synthetics, Citizens’ Assembly hears

“We have now begun the most ambitious and far-reaching discussion on drugs use and national drugs policy that has ever taken place in Ireland," said Assembly chairperson Paul Reid.

Sun, 16 Apr, 2023

Crystal meth a 'real worry' for Ireland, Citizens’ Assembly hears

Crystal meth a 'real worry' for Ireland, Citizens’ Assembly hears

Ireland second and fourth highest in EU for use of ecstasy and cocaine, Citizens' Assembly hears

Sun, 16 Apr, 2023

Drugs in the form of powder and tablets, a spoon and a syringe on a black background mockup

Cormac O'Keeffe: Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use has been given a mammoth task

As the Citizens’ Assembly gathers for the first time this weekend, Cormac O'Keeffe examines the big questions it proposes to tease out over just six weekends between now and October

Sat, 15 Apr, 2023

Ireland needs to stop stigmatising and villainising drug users, assembly hears

Ireland needs to stop stigmatising and villainising drug users, assembly hears

Studies show that some 80%-90% of people who are drug dependent have experienced trauma, Dr Lambert said.

Sat, 15 Apr, 2023

LEGAL 5 Euthanasia

Irish Examiner View: Time for debate on thorny issues of assisted dying and euthanasia

Assisted dying has been legal in Switzerland since the 1940s, while euthanasia is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain.

Tue, 04 Apr, 2023

Irish Examiner view: Shining a light on Irish drug-trade growth

Irish Examiner view: Shining a light on Irish drug-trade growth

The management of illicit substances is a challenge for Ireland which is no less serious than tackling climate change

Mon, 06 Mar, 2023

COLOMBIA-MARIJUANA-PROTEST

Gradual changes to drug laws 'best' way

Experts argue decriminalisation should be framed as 'public health' measure

Fri, 03 Mar, 2023

Coronavirus

Former HSE chief Paul Reid appointed Chairperson of Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use

Appointed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Reid will be tasked with driving the controversial assembly, examining the legalisation of drugs, and concluding its work this year

Tue, 28 Feb, 2023

Letters to the Editor: What is the role of our umpires?

Letters to the Editor: What is the role of our umpires?

Regarding the role of the umpire in today’s GAA games.

Mon, 27 Feb, 2023

Fine Gael Ard Fheis

'It wasn’t for me': Hildegarde Naughton admits she tried cannabis in her 20s

The Fine Gael junior minister, who is responsible for the national drugs strategy, agreed it was an illegal activity, revealing she tried the drug while in Ireland

Wed, 22 Feb, 2023

Drugs Illustration

Citizens' assembly on liberalising Ireland's drug laws 'will be a difficult debate'

Assembly will hold its first meeting in April and will conclude its work this year

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

FRANCE-DEMO-DRUG-CANNABIS

Paul McAuliffe: Decriminalising drugs would be an empathetic and pragmatic solution

Government last week gave approval for a Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use to be held this year with the work of the assembly commencing in April. This is an important step in having a difficult conversation for Irish society.

Mon, 20 Feb, 2023

Undercover gardaí checking pubs for drug use

Undercover gardaí checking pubs for drug use

The Garda Commissioner has tasked an inspector in every Garda division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation, Justice Minister Simon Harris also revealed.

Fri, 17 Feb, 2023

Drug Use in West Midlands, England

Citizens' Assembly to conduct root-and-branch review of drug policy

The mission of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use suggests it will lay out various options that the State could take when it comes to legislative, policy, and operational changes.

Tue, 14 Feb, 2023

Fine Gael Ard Fheis

Citizens’ Assembly on drugs use to be established

Consisting of 99 members and an independent chair, the body will consider government approaches to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs.

Tue, 14 Feb, 2023

Taoiseach visits United States of America

Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and ministers to travel for St Patrick's Day events

Leo Varadkar will visit Joe Biden in the White House while Micheál Martin will spend a week in New York and Boston where he will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

Tue, 14 Feb, 2023

Cannabis study

What does it mean to decriminalise drugs?

Citizens’ Assembly will give the public an opportunity to better understand how problems like drug abuse, addiction, related health issues and petty crime can be resolved

Mon, 06 Feb, 2023

Irish Examiner view: Drugs law reform poses big questions

Irish Examiner view: Drugs law reform poses big questions

Decriminalising users

Mon, 06 Feb, 2023

British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin

Tánaiste signals support for decriminalising drugs

A spokesperson for Mr Martin said: 'The Tánaiste supports a health-led approach to drug addiction and supports commitments in the programme for government to convene a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use'.

Thu, 02 Feb, 2023

Cannabis edibles, medical marijuana, CBD infused gummies and edible pot concept theme with close up on colorful gummy bears and

Cannabis report: The case for legalisation must take into account its potential harms

From a senior garda's warning about edibles to medics highlighting addiction and impaired cognitive function amid surging potency — marijuana may not be as benign as it seems

Tue, 02 Aug, 2022

Drugs Illustration

Colette Kelleher: We need a drugs policy that puts people first

We hope that next year’s citizens' assembly on drugs use will clearly set out policies that put people with addictions and what works best for them first, offering real hope for better days ahead for themselves and their families

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

'Sad indictment' that prison is best option for addicts

'Sad indictment' that prison is best option for addicts

Campaigner James Leonard, of 'The Two Norries' podcast, said investment in health services has to happen in tandem with decriminalisation

Tue, 26 Apr, 2022

Big problems in small towns: Rural Ireland has a problem with cocaine

Big problems in small towns: Rural Ireland has a problem with cocaine

Ann Murphy reports on how cocaine has moved from being a problem that was largely confined to more urban areas to become an increasing scourge in towns and villages across the country.

Sat, 19 Mar, 2022

CC IMELDA MAY BILLBOARD

Delay on drugs assembly 'will be measured in death and devastation'

Senator says there ought to be a citizens' assembly on drugs use, rather than the one planned to discuss Dublin's lord mayoralty

Wed, 23 Feb, 2022