Home > Opinion: For drug service reform to work, we need to be brave and innovative.

[thejournal.ie] , Duffin, Tony Opinion: For drug service reform to work, we need to be brave and innovative. (25 Jul 2014)

External website: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/drug-addiction-ser...

The recent cabinet reshuffle has seen responsibility for the issue of substance misuse return to a senior Ministerial brief, as Minister Varadkar takes direct responsibility under the health portfolio. This news has been welcomed by Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) who operate drug and alcohol services, as it’s an important step in keeping substance misuse close to the top of the political agenda.

However, it is also important to remember that drugs and alcohol are part of the Minister’s portfolio in the context of a health budget which is significantly overspent, and in circumstances where saving money across state supported services very much remains the order of the day. In this article, I look at some key issues to consider in ensuring that addiction services provide both high quality care for service users and value for money for the taxpayer.


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