Draft National Drugs Strategy: Public Consultation

We want to hear from you!

The Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD has launched a public consultation on the draft national drugs strategy.

The Minister recognises that Ireland’s response to drug use requires a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach and is now seeking the views of the public - including those with lived and living experience of drug use, along with service providers, charities, advocacy groups, and public representatives, so they are fully considered in the final strategy. This will help ensure that the strategy reflects the current landscape, as well as the dynamic and ever‑changing nature of problem drug and alcohol use.

Illicit drugs are a major health and safety issue across Europe and in Ireland. Drug use now happens across all parts of Irish society, and more people are using several substances at once, especially cocaine, alcohol, and newer synthetic drugs. This creates new challenges for healthcare and policy.

The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future 2025 commits to a health-led approach to drug use.

The next national drugs strategy envisages a society where the harms from drug and alcohol use are minimised for individuals, children, families and communities and where health and social care for those affected is high quality, accessible, equitable, person-centred, integrated and recovery-oriented. This strategy will impact the lives of numerous individuals, families and communities throughout the country.

The new strategy upholds the right to health, recognising that people who use drugs or alcohol in a harmful way are entitled to access healthcare services and to be supported in their recovery journey, regardless of social background or location.

It outlines five strategic pillars:

• protection from harm;
• provision of high‑quality treatment services;
• promotion of recovery;
• prioritisation of health supports over criminal sanctions, and;
• preparedness for global drug threats.

These pillars will be advanced through 30 specific actions over the first two years, with a new set of actions proposed for the remaining two years of the strategy.

Extensive consultation has taken place on the development of the strategy, including the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use and a series of stakeholder events.

A public consultation is now taking place in order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to submit their views on the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026 - 2029

The public consultation will run for six weeks until 10 April 2026.

Please click on the “View consultation” link below to take part. You will be redirected to the EU survey site where you will be given further instructions on how to complete the survey.

We intend to publish a summary report outlining the responses received and the issues raised. No personal information will be published.

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To view the consultation click the button below.