As part of the development of Ireland’s National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, a public consultation was opened by the Department of Health under Minister Jennifer Murnane O'Connor.

The consultation invited input from members of the public, stakeholders across the drugs and alcohol sector, frontline service providers, and people with lived or living experience of drug use.

ACI Submission

As part of this process, the Addiction Counsellors of Ireland submitted a formal response to the draft strategy. Overall, ACI supports the direction of the draft strategy and its commitment to a health-led, integrated, and evidence-based response.

However, ACI highlights several areas where the final strategy should be further strengthened. In its submission, ACI emphasises that the final strategy should:

• Clearly recognise the relationship between poverty, inequality, and substance-related harm
• Explicitly include addiction counsellors and addiction workers in workforce planning
• Ensure these professionals are represented in implementation and monitoring structures
• Strengthen trauma-informed and dual diagnosis responses
• Maintain a clear focus on alcohol-related harm
• Treat the voluntary and community sector as full partners in delivery
• Strengthen oversight, standards, and accountability across services

ACI notes that these issues are central to effective implementation and will significantly influence the impact and credibility of the final strategy. A copy of the full submission can be viewed by clicking the image.