Alcohol will be included in drugs strategy, says minister

ALCOHOL abuse is a “serious social problem” and a “gateway” to the abuse of other substances, the new drugs minister has said.

Róisín Shortall, minister of state at the Department of Health, said she wanted “early progress” in the inclusion of alcohol into the national drugs strategy (NDS).

Ms Shortall assumed responsibility for the NDS on May 1 after it and the Office of the Minister for Drugs was transferred from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of Health.