I want to raise serious concerns about the draft national drugs strategy because those working on the ground are saying it is fundamentally flawed. This week, we had three respected community networks, namely, CityWide, Family Addiction Recovery Ireland, FARI, and UISCE, briefing policymakers. Their message is clear. It is that the new draft national drugs strategy is missing the point. It fails to recognise a key point, which is that drug harm is deeply linked to poverty, inequality and disadvantage. If we are ignoring that aspect, then I think we are missing a significant aspect and we are building the drugs strategy on the wrong foundation.

Over 11,000 people died between 2004 and 2020 from drug overdoses. These are real death statistics that were preventable. What worries me most is that the voices of the most affected are not being considered in the draft strategy. In effect, they are being pushed out. Communities, families and people using services are sort of being treated as afterthoughts and not partners.

As chair of the south western regional drug and alcohol task force, I see that decisions are being made in the drugs strategy to suit the systems we have rather than the people. Local drug and alcohol task forces have been the backbone of the community response to drug addiction over the last number of years, and they are being weakened rather than strengthened. I say this from experience.

As the Deputy Leader knows, I have worked on the ground in drug community projects. I see organisations like ours and many others, like CityWide, trying to meet people where they are at. Families are living with fear, financial strain and often in silence. The people who use drugs are not just service users; they are citizens, parents and neighbours, people that the Deputy Leader and I know, and they deserve a real voice in this strategy. I am asking that the draft strategy be revisited urgently, that we align it with the recommendations of the citizens' assembly in which I took part and that drug policy be treated for what it is, which is a core socioeconomic issue, with oversight at Cabinet level. We cannot afford to get this wrong. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Deputy Leader.