Continuing the Conversation – The Future of Drug Policy in Ireland

ACJRD's 2024 Annual Conference entitled Continuing the Conversation - The future of Drugs Policy in Ireland aims to explore the rationale and implementation of Government Policy and the Citizens' Assembly Report recommendations in a multi-disciplinary manner.

Speakers will present their endeavours to balance the enforcement of relevant legal sanctions for the supply and use of illegal drugs, with a desire, through a welfare lens, to support non-criminogenic interventions of diversion, dissuasion, desistance and decriminalisation.

The conference's aim will be facilitated by plenary speaker presentations where topics such as policing, intervention by the judiciary, care and after-care for prisoners, international decriminalisation policies, citizen assembly views, integration of drug services with primary care services and the lived experience of drug users will be explored.

In parallel, breakout thematic sessions Supports services for drug addiction - the status quo, Prevention - Policies and Practice and Moving Towards Decriminalisation & Desistance, with three sub-topics in each session, will present information, research and shared lived experience, with generous time allocated for conference attendees to engage with the speakers.

• Government Policy on Drug Use in Ireland is encapsulated in Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025 which is accessible at Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025.
• The recent Citizens' Assembly focused on Drugs Use in Ireland resulted in the output of in 36 recommendations on 'how best to balance the objectives of decriminalisation, diversion and dissuasion' as outlined in their subsequent report was launched in January of this year. See the Report of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use (citizensassembly.ie).

ACJRD Members get priority booking and a discounted registration fee and non-members of ACJRD are welcome to attend. This event will take place in the Camden Court Hotel, Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2. D02 W086.

Please note that three Thematic Sessions will take place simultaneously during this Conference. When booking, delegates are requested to indicate their first and second choice of Thematic Session to attend. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The Thematic Sessions are detailed on the Conference programme. Due to space constraints, it is not possible to move between Thematic Sessions for different speakers.

To view a copy of the Conference Programme, please see https://www.acjrd.ie/news/events/237-the-acjrd-27th-annual-conference-2024.

The Chatham House Rule will be invoked at this Conference. Please note that this rule applies to Social Media as well as traditional formats. To view the Chatham House Rule, please click here.

Event Venue

Camden Court Hotel, Charlotte Way, Dublin, Ireland