Debate contribution: Addiction and Drug-related Deaths

Debate contribution by Mr Danny Donnelly on 23 April 2024.

MLA

Mr Danny Donnelly

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

23 April 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Addiction and Drug-related Deaths

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4485224

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I support the motion and the amendment. I thank colleagues from Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionist Party for bringing these important issues to the Assembly. NISRA's 2024 report on drug-related and drug-misuse deaths makes for truly shocking reading. It is extremely concerning that there has been a 98% increase in deaths due to drug-related causes since 2012. It is also concerning that the majority of those deaths — 55·8% — were of individuals aged between 25 and 44. As the motion rightly states, opioids are consistently the most common form of drug listed as a cause of death, averaging 118 deaths a year between 2020 and 2022. By comparison, road deaths average around 54, which, obviously, is still far too high. Like the proposer, I attended the vigils at Stormont and spoke to families who have lost a loved one. It can be easy to get lost in the statistics in debates such as this, but we should never forget that each drug- and alcohol-related death is the loss of an individual and a devastating loss for their families, friends and wider community. We must do everything that we can to tackle the harms around substance abuse. It is important that the Department of Health progresses the implementation of the 57 actions outlined in the substance use strategy. With support, people can turn their lives around. We have seen that again and again. As has been noted by Members, tackling drug addiction and drug-related deaths is not solely a health issue, and a joined-up collaborative approach is required across the Executive to confront the root causes of drug addiction.

Yes, absolutely, and, as someone who sits on the APG on reducing harm related to gambling, I have heard horrendous stories about the addictive nature of gambling, and, certainly, we have to address that as a public health issue. The motion notes the:

"intrinsic connection between social deprivation, poverty, isolation, mental health and addiction issues",

and many steps must be taken to confront each of those challenges. The absence of opportunities in many communities remains an issue for many young people, particularly in housing and employment, which exacerbates existing poverty and isolation. The greater prevalence of mental health problems in Northern Ireland, as Diane Dodds noted, compared with the rest of the UK, not least because of the legacy of the Troubles, reiterates the importance of the full implementation of the mental health strategy 2021-2031. We are happy to support the amendment. It is important that plans for a residential rehabilitation service are outlined as soon as possible, especially in what constitutes a regionally strategic location. The service does not necessarily have to be in Belfast, as mentioned, but, as Belfast is the capital city and where most of those issues are prevalent, a location there may prove to be the most suitable and beneficial. We will await detailed proposals from the Department. I want to touch on something that was initially absent from the motion but that was then mentioned by the Member who moved the motion, Órlaithí Flynn. That is the inclusion of an overdose prevention centre. Overdose prevention centres are safe and hygienic spaces where people are allowed to inject drugs under the supervision of professionally trained staff who can offer safe equipment and drug testing and who can respond immediately to any overdoses. An overdose is a medical emergency that can be treated primarily with naloxone. There are over 200 overdose prevention centres across 17 countries worldwide, and peer-reviewed research evidences that overdose prevention centres can prevent thousands of deaths, decrease the spread of disease and improve communities by reducing drug litter and by making drug use on our streets less visible. They can also save taxpayers' money through reduced emergency service use. The provision of the opioid reversal drug naloxone to users and their families has also been shown to save lives. I hope to see that progress too. Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits overdose prevention centres, but, despite that, there are plans to open the UK's first sanctioned facility later this year in Scotland, following the experience of an unsanctioned overdose prevention centre in Glasgow in 2020-21. The Lord Advocate for Scotland has provided guidance for police, highlighting that it is not in the public interest to prosecute someone for using an overdose prevention centres. Last year, Belfast City Council voted to support a motion to set up an overdose prevention centre in the city, and I believe that the Assembly should now look at that. Doing so would complement the motion by providing a tried and proven method of saving lives and preventing drug-related deaths. We also need wider reform of drug policy and legislation, particularly the increasingly outdated Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. However, that is for Westminster, given that those are primarily reserved matters. In the Assembly, we must do all that we can to reduce harm, tackle addiction and prevent drug-related deaths. The provision of a regional rehabilitation centre and overdose prevention centre would be key steps forward.

843 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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