National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) Director Professor Paul Griffiths has been appointed to a high-level government steering group to oversee the development of a new National Drugs Strategy (NDS) for Ireland.

The group brings together international experts alongside representatives from government departments, the Health Service Executive, Health Research Board and community organisations, including people with lived experience. Chaired by Dr Sarah Morton (University College Dublin), it will meet until December 2025 to provide expert advice and guide the drafting of both the new national drugs strategy and a two-year action plan to support its delivery.

Its work will draw on stakeholder consultation, findings from the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, an independent evaluation of the current strategy and the EU drugs strategy and action plan.

Read more about the group here.

(L-R:) Dr Sarah Morton, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor (Ireland’s Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy) and Professor Paul Griffiths.