Illicit drug use in Limerick City: A stakeholder and policy analysis using multiple streams model

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy Analysis
• Sociology of Drugs

Background:

• Ireland's evolving drug landscape necessitates adaptive drug policies.
• Limerick City serves as a case study to analyze policy development approaches.
• Understanding local policy responses to changing drug use patterns is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine policy development approaches in response to the changing drug situation in Ireland.
• To utilize Limerick City as a specific case study for this examination.
• To identify key factors influencing the effectiveness of local drug policies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research employing a hybrid methodology.
• Document, content, and stakeholder analysis were combined.
• Kingdon's multiple streams model and grey literature search guidelines were utilized.

Main Results:

• Increasing drug availability and use have heightened crime, health issues, and treatment demands.
• National drug strategy 2017-2025 emphasizes a health approach, but implementation varies.
• Stakeholder coordination is vital, yet the inclusion of drug users' voices needs improvement; dual diagnosis and supervised injection facilities offer expansion opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Drug policy development has fostered service evolution, though disparities exist outside urban centers.
• Inclusivity, adaptability, and continuous research are essential for robust drug policies.
• Addressing regional service gaps and enhancing stakeholder engagement are critical for future policy success.