330. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recently published report from the Health Research Board, the national drug treatment reporting system: 2015-2021 drug treatment data, showing rapidly increasing drug use in Ireland; and if he will consider a different legal approach based on decriminalisation. [52406/22]

Stephen Donnelly Minister for Health: The National Drug and Alcohol Survey, is conducted every four years  to survey the general population aged 15 years and over, about the prevalence of drug use in Ireland. It examines the use of a variety of drugs and includes alcohol and tobacco consumption. The results of the 2019/2020 survey show that overall, the use of illegal drugs has remained at a similar level to that recorded in the 2014/15 survey. An increase has been seen, however, in the use of cocaine and ecstasy.

While cannabis is the most prevalent illegal drug used in Ireland, of cannabis use has decreased from 6.5% to 5.9% when compared to the 2014/15 survey. A significant decrease in the instances of Cannabis Use Disorder has also been recorded. Cocaine use has increased across all age groups. Men aged 25 to 34 are most likely to report cocaine use in the last year. The findings of the 2019/20 survey represent a significant increase in use when compared to the same cohort in the 2014/15 survey.  Recent cocaine use among males aged 25-34 years increased, from 1.8% in 2003 to 9.4% in 2019-2020.

Ecstasy was the second most commonly used drug in the last 12 months after cannabis and has increased in prevalence from 1.8 to 2.2%. The recent use of ecstasy among 15- to 64-year-olds has risen from 2.1% to 2.7% when compared to the findings of the 2014/15 survey.

The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) is the national surveillance system that records and reports on the numbers of cases in treatment for drug and alcohol related problems. The latest NDTRS report published in June, provides information on treatment provided by health services to address the harmful effects of drug use, and the types of drugs that are most impacting on people in treatment, and the social factors associated with problematic drug use.

The National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out a health-led approach to drug use. It promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs, with drug use treated first and foremost as a public health issue.

The Programme for Government endorses this health-led approach. By treating the use of substances as a public health issue, rather than solely as a criminal issue.

Arising from the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, six strategic priorities were identified for the remaining years of the strategy until 2025, which align with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan.

One priority is to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. This aims to reinforce the health-led, rather than criminal justice-led, approach to people who use of drugs and who commit drug-related crimes. The focus will be on the rollout of the health diversion programme for people in possession of drugs for personal use, which will offer compassion not punishment. Other initiatives, such as the drug treatment courts, will also be supported. A particular emphasis will be on the exchange of best practice on alternatives to coercive sanctions with EU member states.

The health diversion programme will connect people who use drugs with health services and a pathway to recovery, avoiding a criminal conviction, which can have far-reaching consequences for people, particularly younger people. The commencement of the health diversion programme is currently being finalised. The health diversion programme will be reviewed following the first full year of implementation, to ensure it is meeting all of its aims and to make any necessary changes.

The working group on alternative approaches to the possession of drugs for personal use examined the option of decriminalising drugs. The group did not deem this an appropriate option in the Irish context due to legal difficulties (which could lead to the de facto legalisation of drugs), and operational problems for An Garda Síochána. The report of the working group is available here. Accordingly, the Government has no plans to decriminalise drugs, including cannabis.

We cannot be complacent about the risk to health posed by illicit drugs. The Government is committed to a public health approach to drug use, that will lead to better outcomes for individuals and society. I look forward to the deliberations on this matter by the forthcoming citizens assembly on drug use.