The new Irish National Drugs Strategy (Interim) 2009–2016 was launched on the 10th of September 2009. This policy document is to be replaced by a National Substance Misuse Strategy. This will incorporate the material of the interim strategy and cover also alcohol.
The 2009–2016 (interim) Drugs Strategy is comprehensive and build on five pillars (supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research). It is constructed around a hierarchy of aims, objectives and key performance indicators, and comprises 54 different actions.
The overall strategic aims of the new strategy are to create a safer society through the reduction of the supply and availability of drugs for illicit use; to minimise problem drug use throughout society; to provide appropriate and timely substance treatment and rehabilitation services (including harm reduction services) tailored to individual needs; to ensure the availability of accurate, timely, relevant and comparable data on the extent and nature of problem substance use in Ireland; and to have in place an efficient and effective framework for implementing the National Substance Misuse Strategy 2009–2016.
