Please note: This summary provides an overview of the Department of Health briefing. No formal notes or presentation were provided. This account reflects the key points discussed and is not an official record.

On Thursday 27th November 2025, the Department of Health hosted an online briefing on the new National Drugs Strategy. The meeting was co-chaired by Professor Eamon Keenan (National Clinical Lead, HSE Addiction Services) and Mr Jim Walsh (Principal Officer, Drug Policy Unit, Department of Health). Attendees included representatives from the Medical Council, College of Psychiatrists, Pharmaceutical Society, Nursing & Midwifery Board, University Sector, CORU, Addiction Counsellors of Ireland, and sectoral HSE representatives. ACI Board Member, Tony Geoghegan, represented ACI.

Five Key Areas of the Strategy

Professor Keenan outlined that the strategy would broadly focus on five areas and sought input from attendees:

1. Protective – Prevention initiatives including early intervention, education, children’s services, youth and family services, diversionary activities, sports, public health initiatives, and alcohol labelling.

2. Equality of Access – Addressing regional disparities in treatment access, and ensuring services cover the full range of addictions, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, gaming, sex / pornography, and food.

3. Treatment – Ensuring quality of service provision, standards in treatment, training and proficiency for practitioners, and addressing complex needs such as co-morbid mental health issues and neurodiversity. Challenges around staff recruitment, retention, training, and support were also discussed.

4. Prison – Noting gaps in provision for people with addictions in custody, particularly those serving long sentences, including lack of drug-free areas and rehabilitation services.

5. Alignment & Dynamism – Ensuring Ireland’s drug policy aligns with European policy and can respond quickly to emerging drug trends and policy issues.

ACI's Input on the Strategy

Ahead of the briefing, ACI sought input from its members on potential policy recommendations. On behalf of member input and the organisation, ACI raised the following key points:

• Alcohol should be more prominently addressed, and the strategy title should reflect this as 'The National Drug & Alcohol Strategy.'

• The importance of standards and oversight in addiction services, including appropriate treatment protocols and investment in staff training, development, and supervision.

• Addressing pay discrepancies in the statutory sector between Addiction Counsellors and Counsellors as a major factor affecting staff retention.

Next Steps

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Department indicated that a final draft of the strategy and action plan is expected by the end of December. The draft will then be presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs for input and sign-off, with the final strategy likely to be published by mid-2026.

ACI’s Commitment to Members

ACI remains dedicated to representing members’ voices in this process and will provide updates as they become available.