The British-Irish Council Misuse of Substances work sector will hold a Ministerial meeting this week, which will be hosted by the Government of Ireland. The meeting will be chaired by Frank Feighan, T.D. Minister of State for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy and held via a virtual platform, due to the current Covid-19 public health requirements across Member Administrations.

Since the last ministerial meeting, officials from the Misuse of Substances work sector have shared learning and experiences with a number of meetings and site visits in Member Administrations. The work sector has remained actively engaged throughout the pandemic, with officials meeting virtually to share approaches, progress the work of the Council, and to identify the issues of ongoing mutual interest.

Ministers this week at their meeting will consider a number of issues including financial mechanisms to reduce the consumption of alcohol and approaches to measuring the effectiveness of addiction services and harm reduction interventions. Ministers will also consider and agree the future focus of the work sector over the next two years, including the implications of Covid-19 on the sector, and the delivery of drug and alcohol services.