Draft National Drug Strategy Criticized as 'Backwards Step' by Local Task Forces

The Network of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (LDATF) has voiced strong opposition to the Government's draft National Drug Strategy for 2026-2029, labeling it a "backwards step" that fails to acknowledge the realities on the ground. This criticism, echoed by chairpersons from 14 task forces across Ireland, centers on the strategy's perceived disconnect from the recommendations of the 2024 Citizens' Assembly on Drugs and its potential to marginalize the very groups best equipped to address drug-related issues.

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The group said there has been a failure to take the 'different contexts in which drug issues play out across Ireland'

Established three decades ago, the LDATFs have been instrumental in informing drug policy and providing direct support to communities, families, and individuals grappling with addiction. Aoife Bairéad, Chair of the Canal Communities LDATF, emphasized that these local groups are "at the coal face" of drug response, possessing an intimate understanding of the unique challenges faced in different regions. The draft strategy's apparent shift towards a more centralized approach, she argues, risks consigning these vital, experienced groups to the periphery, thereby undermining their invaluable contribution.

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The strategy essentially attempts to respond to the drug challenges of Darndale in the same way as that of Clonakilty. Levels of deprivation in Darndale far exceed anything in Clonakilty and the reality is that deprivation and social exclusion greatly exacerbate the impacts of drug misuse and that has to be reflected in policy

Furthermore, the LDATF contends that the strategy fails to account for the vastly different contexts in which drug issues manifest across Ireland. Ms. Bairéad pointedly stated that attempting to apply a one-size-fits-all approach, as the draft strategy seems to do by treating issues in areas like Darndale the same as in Clonakilty, ignores the critical role of deprivation and social exclusion in exacerbating drug misuse. This lack of nuanced understanding, they argue, renders the strategy fundamentally flawed.

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The Local Task Forces participated in the Assembly, and welcomed the recommendations at its conclusion, so if the Government is going to ignore some of its key recommendations they need to make clear as to why

Eddie Mullins, Chair of Clondalkin LDATF and CEO of Merchant's Quay, highlighted the disappointment that the draft strategy appears to disregard key recommendations from the Citizens' Assembly, which had promised a "much needed pivot" towards a health-focused approach. The LDATF's participation in the Assembly and their subsequent welcoming of its recommendations make the Government's apparent divergence from them all the more concerning. The Network is now calling for a clear commitment to maintain and strengthen the role of local task forces, ensuring that their decades of practical experience continue to inform and guide drug policy in Ireland.

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Local Task Force groups as being 'at the coal face' of drug response for decades, with intimate understanding and knowledge of the issues. 'To consign these groups to the margins fails to understand the key role these groups have played in informing policy, and at a very practical level, in supporting communities, families and individuals caught up in drug addiction,' she said.