Dear Editor,
This week, the Special Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use convened for its initial meeting to review the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use findings, which suggested the decriminalisation of drug use. However, upon further examination, the recommendation seems considerably flawed.
Under this proposed plan, individuals found in possession of minor quantities of drugs would remain on the wrong side of the law and could be subject to search and seizure operations by the police. The solitary change lies in the fact that anybody caught with an unlawful substance would be redirected to HSE addiction services in an attempt to circumvent penalties.
In the realm of illegal drugs, it’s clear that cannabis is the most frequently used in Ireland and will form the bulk of those being rerouted to addiction services. The irony lies in the fact that most cannabis users are not battling an addiction problem. As a result, addiction services, already suffering from a lack of resources and excessive demand, will be inundated with individuals who have no genuine need for assistance. In contrast, individuals struggling to cope with serious drug issues will face an extended waiting time.
The simplistic nature of this recommendation and its wide-ranging approach are its shortcomings. If implemented in its new configuration, it is undoubtedly destined for failure.
Sincerely,
Ryan McHale,
Dublin 17.