Debate contribution: Drug-related Deaths: East Antrim

Debate contribution by Mr John Stewart on 27 May 2025.

MLA

Mr John Stewart

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

27 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Drug-related Deaths: East Antrim

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4972689

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Death is incredibly difficult in any circumstances, but it can be even more harrowing and often more distressing when it comes as a result of drug use. Unfortunately, too many people still lose their lives as a result of drugs across Northern Ireland. Behind every statistic is a human being — a son, daughter, mother or father — and a tragedy of someone who was loved and is, no doubt, sorely missed. I send my condolences and thoughts to everyone who has lost someone as a result of drugs not just in East Antrim but across Northern Ireland. Each one is a tragedy. I thank the Member who secured the debate and the Minister for responding to it. We can all agree that the Minister is one of four or five Ministers who could be sitting here, because the issue straddles Justice; TEO, if we look at it through the lens of the paramilitary crime task force and the effects of the drug-dealing crime gangs that exist on our streets; and even Education, with the raising of awareness in our schools about the tragedies that can result from taking drugs. I thank the Minister for taking the time to be here today. We have already heard that, regrettably, seven lives were lost in East Antrim in the past year as a result of drugs. As I said, each one of those is a tragedy. Through my constituency office, I know about the problems with addiction that people face daily and how engaging with the statutory services can be a challenge. However, I have also seen first-hand the agility, skills and compassion of staff on the ground who have been engaging with individuals and their families. I pay tribute to each one of those NHS workers and to our charities and community workers. The last Member to speak talked about the great work that is being done in East Antrim by the likes of Carrickfergus Community Forum, our PCSPs and a litany of unsung heroes who are volunteers and help those most in need. They should be praised. While the numbers change year-on-year, there has been a stark increase in the number of people losing their lives to drug use over the past year in Northern Ireland. I was surprised to learn recently that the drug that is most often mentioned in drug-related cases across Northern Ireland is the prescription drug pregabalin. When it is mixed with other substances, such as opiates, there is a slowdown in breathing. We all know the impact that that can have when there is polydrug use. Of course, the other more commonly recognised drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, also claim far too many lives. They also ruin lives and families on a daily basis. Cocaine, for instance, remains the predominant substance in deaths that involve only one drug. No matter the drug or the circumstances in which it has been taken, as MLAs, we should drive change to ensure that society does all that can be done to respond to this undoubtedly huge problem. In 2025, with all the information that exists about the dangers of drug taking, nobody should lose their life. Equally, however, I am a realist, and I recognise that we cannot just wish the problem away. That is why the Department of Health, along with the many agencies involved, must continue to do all that it can to stop people taking those substances and, when necessary, support them in their recovery from any addiction while preventing the most at risk dying from overdoses. Time and time again, we have heard about how that will involve a cross-departmental approach. We need more ability in and funding for our police so that they can tackle the importation of illegal drugs; we need our schools to be able to raise awareness among our young people about the tragedies that can ensue; and we need to do away with the criminal gangs that deal this rubbish and push it to our kids up and down the country. That needs to be dealt with. There is an overall plan in the Department of Health. From the groups that I have engaged with, I know that the substance abuse strategy is broadly recognised as saying and doing the right thing, but, regrettably, as is the case with so many other important strategies in the Department of Health, it has not been fully funded. We need to see that happening, and we need to see it happening now. This is not a time for political point-scoring — it is too big an issue — but we need to make sure that the strategies and everything that can be done to tackle the problems and scourge of drug taking are put in place as quickly as possible.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification