State ‘will pay cost’ of drugs funding cutbacks

THE State’s leading drug adviser said he fears gains made over the past 15 years will be lost if funding cuts were forced through.

Dr Des Corrigan, chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, also revealed his own budget has been cut by 23% this year. He warned the State would pay more in the long term if drug users were not in treatment and reverted back to drug use and crime.

The Irish Examiner revealed last week that the Government was cutting funding to drug task forces by a further 15% in the second part of this year. Community representatives and task force chairpersons described the cuts as “an attack” on communities.