On 8 May 2025, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, together with Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice, launched the national awareness campaign for the DRIVE (Drug-related intimidation and violence engagement) project.1,2 The key messages associated with the campaign were that drug-related intimidation can happen to anyone but there is help, and by visiting the website driveproject.ie people can find information about safe and confidential services in their local area.

The DRIVE project is funded by the Drugs Policy, Refugee and Inclusion Health Unit, Department of Health. The launch was chaired by Antoinette Kinsella, Chair, DRIVE Oversight Committee, with additional presentations from Dr Shawna Coxon, Deputy Commissioner, An Garda Síochána; Dr Suzi Lyons (Health Research Board (HRB)) and Siobhan Maher (DRIVE Co-ordinator).

The DRIVE project is the first of its kind in Ireland. It provides a six-pillar model to enable a national interagency response to drug-related intimidation (DRI) and violence. The project includes specialised training, resources, and local capacity building, bringing together community and voluntary groups, An Garda Síochána, Government Departments and other agencies.

From L-R: Dr Suzi Lyons, Health Research Board; Siobhan Maher, DRIVE Co-ordinator; Dr Shawna Coxon, Deputy
Commissioner, An Garda Síochána; Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice; Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister for
Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy; and Antoinette Kinsella, Chair, DRIVE Oversight Committee.
Photo by Bryan Brophy, 1IMAGE Photography.

From L-R: Mark Dunne, David Kenny, Detective Superintendent Sé McCormack, Joe Slattery, Hugh Greaves,
Dr Suzi Lyons, Fran Byrne, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National
Drugs Strategy; Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice; Siobhan Maher, David Creed, Kevin Byrne, Georgia Brown,
and Antoinette Kinsella. Photo by Bryan Brophy, 1IMAGE Photography.

The DRIVE project is a data-driven model, with the need to provide accurate data recognised as central to the overall project.3 The HRB is responsible for collecting these data from addiction treatment services nationwide. Since 1 January 2025, this has been facilitated through the National Drug Treatment Reporting System online data collection portal. Accurate and complete data will allow services and policy-makers, for the first time, to understand the prevalence and impact of DRI. Any services that wish to obtain more information on the data collection process should contact ndtrs@hrb.ie

1    Department of Health press release. Available from: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/

2    More information on the project, the supports available and the national awareness campaign is available from: www.driveproject.ie.

3    DRIVE Oversight Committee (2021) A data-driven intervention model to respond effectively to drug-related intimidation and violence in communities in Ireland. Executive summary. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/35239/