Communities and Drugs - Citywide 20th anniversary conference

Communities and Drugs:

The Irish experience, the International experience

Developing a Drugs Policy that works

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Citywide is holding a major conference on the overall theme of Drug Policy Reform.

MORNING SPEAKERS

Address by President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins

José Antonio Gutiérrez Danton, Academic, Researcher, Community activist, Colombia: International drugs policy and the “War on Drugs”- the impact on communities in Colombia

Ann Fordham, Executive Director, International Drug Policy Consortium: The UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs & the shifting global drug policy landscape

John Collins, Co-ordinator, LSE IDEAS International Drug Policy Project: Linking current developments in Irish drugs policy to the international policy context

Anna Quigley, Co-ordinator, Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign: 20 years experience of community involvement – key lessons for the next National Drugs Strategy

Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD: The way forward for Irish drugs policy - Key issues for the next National Drugs Strategy

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

1. Medically Supervised Injecting Centres

a case study in bringing about drug policy reform in Ireland

2. Drug Related Intimidation

Understanding and responding to drug-related community violence and intimidation

3. Implementing Decriminalisation

Developing a model that works in Ireland

4. Developing the unique role of Community Drug Projects

Factors that make them effective in their work and the challenges they are facing

5. The role of the media in the discussion of social policy

How to support a rational and informed public debate on drug policy reform

6. Developing a Human Rights approach to delivery of drug services

A case study on the experience of methadone treatment

7. Women and the National Drugs Strategy

The impact on Women of current drug policy and what needs to be included in the next NDS

8. Equality and diversity in the new National Drugs Strategy

How to ensure inclusion of Travellers, New Communities, LGBT and other minority groups

9. The value of Family Support

How the value of Family Support Work can be understood and measured

10. The role of Youth Work

Developing and supporting effective models of drugs education, prevention and harm reduction

11. Homelessness

Developing an integrated approach to the issues of drug use and homelessness – the experience from the frontline

12. What Ireland can contribute to UNGASS 2016

Examining the concepts of regulation and legalisation .