HSE need ‘additional resources’ for drug testing, Oireachtas told

The HSE have told the Oireachtas that they need ‘additional resources’ for drug testing.

Professor Eamon Keenan, the HSE’s Clinical Lead in addictions told a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use that ‘more staff’ and additional resources are needed for drug checking schemes across Ireland.

When queried by Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan, Professor Keenan suggested it would be useful if funding was ‘doubled’ by Government.

Professor Keenan told the Committee on Thursday that the HSE have ‘got proposals into the Department [of Health]’ for additional resources in order to better monitor emerging drug trends.

In a 2021 report published by the HSE on drug checking, they found that ‘front-of-house’ testing can help deliver ‘tailored health interventions’ and ‘overcome service delivery gaps.’

Front-of-house testing is defined by the HSE as ‘a service that analyses substances obtained directly from the person who uses drugs with results delivered in real time while the person waits.’

As of June 2024, none of these services have been established.

The report also found considerable positive evidence for ‘fixed sites’ which they define as ‘a [testing] service that is not mobile and operates from a permanent location such as an office or laboratory.’

In a webinar that took place in February 2024, Keenan said that there are ‘barriers’ in place regarding such sites, particularly while it is ‘illegal to be in possession of drugs’ due to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He said that these legislative barriers would ‘require examination’ and that the HSE are ‘exploring options’ regarding such facilities.

In the HSE National Social Inclusion Office’s submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, the organisation asked for further expansion of drug checking services based on ‘initial positive feedback’.

Reporting by Ryan McHale, June 22 2024