Intimidation and violence drives local drug markets and enables drug bosses to keep communities “insecure, fearful, and subordinate”, research shows.

Community groups at the frontline of the drugs crisis are making a final push in urging a State group to recommend decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use.

Groups working at the coalface of the drugs problem are to lead calls today and tomorrow, in Dublin and Cork, for the decriminalisation of drug possession.

There are reasons to the hopeful with the new national drugs strategy. But, there are also reasons to be concerned, writes Cormac O’Keeffe.

A Government setting up a task force sounds impressive. It’s what the Taoiseach told the Dáil on Wednesday. The task force, he said, will deal with the “local situation” in the north inner city.

Community groups have welcomed plans in the Programme for Government to consider setting up “mini” Criminal Assets Bureaus for areas hit by gangs and drugs.

President Michael D Higgins praised an arts project for drug users, saying it empowers people to explore “positive aspects” of themselves, to defeat the “negative”.

New drugs minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said Ireland needed to “think differently” about how it approached the problem — and people with an addiction should be dealt with by the health service, rather than the criminal justice system.

The number of drug users who have died by hanging has more than doubled over the last nine years, official figures show.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar will take up direct responsibility for the sensitive areas of drug and alcohol policy.

Budgetary cuts are undermining rehabilitation projects which offer a “lifeline to drug users, their families, and communities”.

A conference calling for a debate on drug laws yesterday heard that a man faced a three-month prison term for having cannabis worth just €2.

With Ireland experiencing a frightening increase in the amount of drugs recovered by the gardaí, the warning that children face a bleak future if the Government fails to take on vested interests in the alcohol and sports industries could not be more timely.

Community groups, health researchers, and academics are calling for a national debate on drug laws.

A drugs crisis organisation is urging the Government to treat drug use as a health issue instead of a criminal one.

The Government has sent a clear message to the drinks industry that their interests are being protected by putting the alcohol action plan on the “back burner”, community and voluntary groups have said.

The largest representative body of drug projects in the country has called for a national debate on decriminalisation.

DRUG projects are furious at the cuts in the budget, particularly the slashing of funding for the rehabilitation of drug users.

DRUGS formerly available in head shops are being sold in party packs with crack for as little as €40, a conference has heard.

TALKING to drug gangs should be considered as part of an effort to protect families and communities from drug-related intimidation, a conference has heard.

COMMUNITY drug groups have welcomed the appointment of Roisín Shortall as a minister responsible for drugs.

DRUGS groups have accused the Government of “seriously undermining” the National Drugs Strategy by slashing both the drugs and community development budgets.

COMMUNITY drug workers have welcomed the international operation against the Christy Kinahan drugs syndicate.

UNDERAGE youths could be sent into pubs, off-licences and shops to see if they can purchase alcohol, under draft proposals for a new drugs strategy.

THERE are no researchers currently employed on the National Advisory Committee on Drugs – a body set up to conduct research with a view to advising the Government on policy in the area.

A LEADING drugs body has expressed alarm at the Government’s decision to leave the National Drugs Strategy (NDS) without a junior minister to implement it.

COMMUNITY drug groups have warned the Government they can’t implement a new national drugs strategy with slashed budgets and a “part-time” minister for drugs.

THE department overseeing the national drugs strategy — and not the HSE — is responsible for the failure to implement the Government’s rehabilitation strategy, a leading community drugs representative has claimed.

PARENTS seeking help for their children caught up in drugs were yesterday urged to contact a national family support group.

Anti-drug campaigners have accused the Government of failing to treat Ireland's growing cocaine problem with the seriousness it deserves.

The Government must provide additional funding in December’s budget for rehabilitation projects to tackle Dublin’s growing drugs crisis, campaigners said today.

Cormac O’Keeffe