Linking alcohol with drugs reflects ‘reality on ground’

THE Government’s decision to combine alcohol with illegal drugs in one strategy reflected the reality on the ground, Minister of State John Curran said yesterday.

Mr Curran, who has responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy (NDS), said, while there were obvious differences between alcohol and illegal drugs, there were many similarities.

The drinks industry hit out at the Government’s decision and said it had “demonised” alcohol. The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) said there were fundamental differences, including the fact alcohol was a legal substance.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner yesterday, Mr Curran said: “I do recognise there is a fundamental difference between illegal drugs and alcohol and that alcohol is legal.

“While I do understand there is a difference, there are many similarities.”

He said, during the consultation phase for the new drugs strategy, the call for a joint strategy was constant.

“The overwhelming, vast majority of the views — not just the public, but people engaged in the provision of services — favoured a joint strategy. When it comes to the society we live in, when we talk about drug addiction we talk about polydrug use, it could be illegal drugs combined with alcohol.

“When we talk about treatment, the HSE now talks about addiction services, with less emphasis on whether it’s alcohol or drugs. Many voluntary groups are treating drug and alcohol addiction side by side. The Government’s decision is in recognition of what’s happening on the ground.”

He said the steering group that is devising the NDS 2009-2016 would meet to determine how to incorporate alcohol.

The Government’s decision has been welcomed by health experts and community groups. Chairman of the Local Drug Task Forces Network David Connolly said: “It’s a welcome move, but it also puts increased demands on local task forces. It has implications with reduced resources.”

ABFI director Rosemary Garth said: “I am extremely concerned that the Government has decided to proceed with this joint strategy, especially as the decision to do so is contrary to the conclusions of the working group established to consider the issue. That working group combined a wide range of stakeholders including Government representatives, the drinks industry, state agencies and public health organisations, working in partnership together to look at the potential synergies between the two areas. In recognition of the fundamental difference between the products, the group did not recommend the creation of a single strategy.”