The BIC Drugs and Alcohol Work Sector is led by the Government of Ireland and has been a topic under consideration of the Council since its establishment in 1999. Over the years, Member Administrations have acknowledged that drug and alcohol services can: save lives with treatment being a protective factor against overdose; help people to recover and break the cycle of addiction; and reduce crime and prevent the spread of addiction. Member Administrations have highlighted that working together within the BIC provides an opportunity to share emerging good practice, and nurture new connections with others who are working on addressing common challenges. The importance of collaboration formally or informally is key in learning from each other and exchanging information on best practice.

This paper summarises the activities of the BIC Drugs and Alcohol Work Sector in delivering its agreed Forward Work Plan for 2021-2024. As part of this delivery, the group held a series of events and visits, working closely with other relevant BIC work sectors, and engaging with external stakeholders and third sector organisations to provide a broader perspective on its work.

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Department of Health press release, 26 January 2024

Minister Hildegarde Naughton chairs ministerial meeting of British-Irish Council drugs and alcohol work sector

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton has today welcomed agreement for cooperation by British-Irish Council (BIC) members on initiatives to reduce drug and alcohol harm.
The Minister was speaking as she hosted a ministerial meeting on the drugs and alcohol sector in Dublin, with representatives from other BIC member administrations, including Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man and Guernsey. 

The ministers have agreed a Forward Work Plan, focusing on five themes:

• involvement of people with lived experience in drugs services
• drug use and drug services for people in prison
• health-led approaches for people in possession of drugs for personal use
• community action on alcohol (collaboration with the European framework on action on alcohol)
• peer reviews on topical drug and alcohol trends

Minister Naughton said: "We know that drug and alcohol problems are complex and multi-faceted, and have wide-reaching impacts for individuals, families and communities. These are not problems that any one administration can tackle alone, so the British-Irish Council provides a vital forum for members to share experiences and learn from one another in order to develop effective evidence-based-policies to reduce drug and alcohol harm. "Over the past few years, our countries have worked together on approaches to reducing drug-related deaths and alcohol-related harms, with particular emphasis on the link between homelessness and drug and alcohol consumption. "We have also worked hard to ensure that the voices of people with lived experience are heard in the development of robust policies and treatment services. "Through continued engagement and sharing of information and experiences, I am confident that we can further utilise our shared learnings as we endeavour to expand and improve services for people affected by drug and alcohol use." During today’s meeting, ministers also received a presentation from Chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use Paul Reid, who spoke about the Assembly’s function as a model for deliberative democracy.

Notes
British-Irish Council’s Communique on the ministerial meeting. The British-Irish Council is a forum for its eight Member Administrations to exchange information, discuss, consult, and use best endeavours to reach agreement on co-operation on policy areas of mutual interest. The BIC drugs and alcohol work sector is chaired by the Irish Government and meets up to three times a year at official level and every two years at ministerial level.

List of Ministerial delegates in attendance:
Government of Ireland: Minister Hildegarde Naughton
Government of Scotland: Shona Robison MSP, Deputy First Minister (attended virtually)
Government of Wales: Lynne Neagle, MS
Government of Guernsey: Deputy Al Brouard
Government of the Isle of Man: Minister Jane Poole-Wilson (attended virtually)