[Ammi]

Ireland will move towards decriminalising drugs, including heroin, cocaine and cannabis, as part of a “radical cultural shift” it was announced on Monday.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, in charge of Ireland’s National Drugs Strategy, also told a lecture at the London School of Economics, that from next year drugs users will be able to inject in specially designated rooms in Dublin.

The minister said attitude to drugs need to move away from shaming addicts to helping them and emphasised there was a difference between legalisation and decriminalisation.

It would remain a crime to profit – from either the sale or distribution of illegal drugs – but drug takers would no longer be criminalised for their addictions.

“I am firmly of the view that there needs to be a cultural shift in how we regard substance misuse if we are to break this cycle and make a serious attempt to tackle drug and alcohol addiction,” said Mr Ó Ríordáin.

However, while Mr O Ríordáin told The Irish Times that there was a “strong consensus that drugs across the board should be decriminalised,” his caveated remarks by claiming it would be for Ireland’s next government to discuss.

His comments follow a leaked report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, appearing to call for a worldwide decriminalisation on 19 October.

The report was withdrawn, the BBC reported, after at least one nation put pressure on the international body to bury the findings of Dr Monica Beg, chief of the HIV/AIDs section of the UNODC in Vienna.

Discussing plans to open ‘injection rooms’ Mr Ó Ríordáin said they would be “clinically controlled environments” that would aim to prevent already vulnerable individuals from exposing themselves to further risks.

He added: “Research has shown that the use of supervised injecting centres is associated with self-reported reductions in injecting risk behaviours.”

Following the opening of the Dublin clinic, the minster added he hoped similar rooms in Cork, Glaway and Limerick would also open.


http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/...use/ar-BBmM2AC

[waterhog]

great move.

[Tom4784]

It's a good idea, I dislike the idea of drug addicts being thrown in prison for simply being addicts, it does them no good in the long run.

[Niamh.]

Good move imo

[Kizzy]

Including Heroin? That's dodgy :/

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Including Heroin? That's dodgy :/

I don't think so (obviously only amounts for personal use) Heroin addicts are going to be heroin addicts whether it's illegal for them to take the drug or not, the problem is only getting worse, atleast if it's a bit more out in the open there's a better chance of addicts being able to get help for it

[smudgie]

Sounds very sensible to me.
Perhaps it could be the first step towards getting it off the streets and getting rid of the dealers.

[Kizzy]

heroin addicts only ever have a small amount for personal use though so how would it be any different?
They just won't be arrested if it's found on them, this is to save police time, they're not going to miraculously morph into social workers.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

heroin addicts only ever have a small amount for personal use though so how would it be any different?
They just won't be arrested if it's found on them, this is to save police time, they're not going to miraculously morph into social workers.

Again I disagree, heroin addiction is becoming a big problem in Dublin especially and for once (lol) I do believe that the motives are actually genuine, that they want to try a different way to try and tackle the growing problem. What they're doing now, just throwing them into a cell for the night or whatever clearly isn't working. If nothing else atleast these injection rooms will be safer for the addict and it takes them off the streets while they're doing it, will reduce the risk of HIV spreading if they supply needles and a place to dispose of used needles too

[King Gizzard]

yes karl

[Northern Monkey]

Will definately be interesting to see the results of this a year or two down the line.It's a good idea for experimental purposes if nothing else.If it cuts down HIV/Aids/Hep etc it can only be a good thing.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Again I disagree, heroin addiction is becoming a big problem in Dublin especially and for once (lol) I do believe that the motives are actually genuine, that they want to try a different way to try and tackle the growing problem. What they're doing now, just throwing them into a cell for the night or whatever clearly isn't working. If nothing else atleast these injection rooms will be safer for the addict and it takes them off the streets while they're doing it, will reduce the risk of HIV spreading if they supply needles and a place to dispose of used needles too

Assuming that addicts will use these rooms, I just don't think they will.
If this is an initiative that goes hand in hand with increased focus on drug smuggling and dealing then all the better.
If it isn't I don't see the point, as it stands heroin addicts can get needles at drop in centres and methadone at the doctors should they request it.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Assuming that addicts will use these rooms, I just don't think they will.
If this is an initiative that goes hand in hand with increased focus on drug smuggling and dealing then all the better.
If it isn't I don't see the point, as it stands heroin addicts can get needles at drop in centres and methadone at the doctors should they request it.

mmm well, we'll see I guess but what they're doing now isn't working so atleast they're trying something different anyway, I don't think it will make the problem any worse anyhow

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Will definately be interesting to see the results of this a year or two down the line.It's a good idea for experimental purposes if nothing else.If it cuts down HIV/Aids/Hep etc it can only be a good thing.

...it's not experimental, in that it's already something that Switzerland are doing, I'm not sure if there are other countries also doing this but it is showing a huge success in not only keeping addicts safe, as a drug addiction is a medical issue and not a criminal one, or shouldn't be...the units will be supervised by medial staff and for anyone who may want to try to beat their addiction, they will get care to do that as well....but even for those who that may not be the case for, it gives them a much safer environment, which is what they should have and not be so open to over-dosing/using unsafe needles etc...

[Ammi]

..I think it's particularly good for drugs like heroin because of the unsafe nature that the drug is taken and the one in Dublin I believe will hope to help the homeless and any drug issue they have because they're obviously the most susceptible to being unsafe with how it is atm....

[Smithy]

Don't really see how this is gonna change anything, like kizzy said it just seems like less work for police

Surely if anything it's gonna encourage drug use because it's now not illegal?

[Livia]

Thinking of a move to Ireland. Niamh, can I come and stay with you?

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Livia

Thinking of a move to Ireland. Niamh, can I come and stay with you?

....and maybe why they topped us on the list..?...

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Thinking of a move to Ireland. Niamh, can I come and stay with you?

I'll stock up on the munchies

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I'll stock up on the munchies

Ammi, come with me... It'll be like Thelma and Louise and... Thelma again.

[bitontheslide]

As I see it, addicts very rarely (if at all) get sent to prison for being an addict. They get put there for mugging, theft, drug pushing etc which would remain illegal i presume

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

As I see it, addicts very rarely (if at all) get sent to prison for being an addict. They get put there for mugging, theft, drug pushing etc which would remain illegal i presume

They would be arrested and charged for possession of drugs, not for being an addict which could end up with them being sent to prison

[kirklancaster]

How will this work?

The whole Law concerning this issue is seriously fuddled, and thus far all government 'initiatives' for alleviating the problem of drug addiction has been even more fuddled.

How will the heroin addicts availing themselves of these new centres score their heroin?

A) Are the authorities going to open little kiosks inside the centres where 'blue rinse' granny volunteers sell bags of heroin at cost price with a free bag of citric thrown in?

B) Or will the addicts have to bring their own supply which they have scored from their illegal street dealers in the normal way?

If option (B) are not the authorities aiding and abetting the unlawful street peddlars by guaranteeing continued 'demand' for their product?

In England, government run 'Rehab Centres' and Needle Exchanges' supply heroin addicts with condoms, hypodermics, and other drug taking paraphenalia, but seeing how the possession and taking of heroin is unlawful, are not the government then guilty of 'aiding and abetting' a crime?

If so, as a citizen, can I enter these centres and execute a 'citizen's arrest' on the staff?

Until the process changed and addicts were required to actually drink the stuff in front of those dispensing it, the methadone issued under prescription on the NHS to addicts, used to be sold by the majority of them for money to buy heroin, or swapped directly for it - and was thus, a prime example of the government indirectly funding an addicts supply with tax-payers money.

This to me reeks.

The government are using this 'initiative' to soften the way forward for full legalisation of all drugs.

Why?

Because they cannot enforce the drug laws.

'Sleeping Policemen Speed Bumps' - remember?

I do believe that reason is bifurcated though, because I believe that the government wants to bring the addict underclasses 'out' of the shadows and win their trust and acclimatise them into using these shiny warm centres, so that when all drugs ARE legalised and the tobacco companies become licensed partners of the government in producing Cannabis/Marijuana 'cigarettes', and 'Unfold Your Own' 'Tooting' packs of Heroin, or 'Inject Your Own Extra Strength' packs, then THEY will have the captive client base, and THEY will have the footfall to their shops - NOT the seedy street peddlars skulking in the shadows.

In the words of the immortal billionaire entrepeneur Hiram J. Flywheel:

"There are only two things to remember if ya wanna make a billion dollars from retailing; 1) Supply a demand, and 2) Make 'em believe it's for THEIR benefit not yours"

[Niamh.]

So cynical Kirk

As Ammi pointed out in the thread already this is a tried and tested model and has been successful in Switzerland

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/...69O3VI20101025

[Jamie89]

I've never been a drug addict myself but I imagine that a lot of them don't actually want to be addicts. I think there's a certain amount of social conditioning that happens which promotes the idea of what a typical addict is which is why they generally don't inspire much sympathy. But addiction is an illness (imo) so anything that is a move towards helping these people the better.