To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the interdepartmental work with the Department of Health in reducing drug-related deaths, since the launch of the Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery Substance Use Strategy.

The Department of Health (DoH) leads on the Substance Use Strategy “Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery” which was co-produced across government departments, including my Department, agencies, health professionals, the community and voluntary sector and service users. This strategy has a specific outcome focussed on harm reduction, including drug deaths.

To this end, my Department works closely with the PSNI, the Organised Crime Taskforce (OCTF) Drug Sub-Group and DoH on a range of key actions.

Through the work of the OCTF, my Department supports the ongoing efforts of law enforcement partners to tackle drug-related harm in our communities. The OCTF operates under a strategic structure comprising a Strategy Group—made up of senior representatives from statutory and law enforcement bodies—which provides oversight across several thematic subgroups. One of these, the OCTF Drugs subgroup, is chaired by the PSNI and includes representation from my Department and DoH.

Meeting quarterly, the Drugs subgroup brings together key agencies to coordinate a strategic response to emerging threats related to drug misuse. It also facilitates joint enforcement activity and ensures that those involved in the illicit supply and distribution of drugs are effectively targeted. Notably, drug-related deaths are a standing agenda item at each meeting, reflecting the group's commitment to addressing the most serious consequences of substance misuse.

Another specific action within the Substance Use Strategy addresses the reduction of violence and intimidation towards drug users by paramilitary and vigilante groups. In support of this, the Public Health Agency was commissioned by the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime, alongside DoH, to undertake a scoping exercise on drug-related intimidation across Northern Ireland. This involved extensive engagement with affected individuals, families, and professionals across justice, health, housing, and youth sectors. The resulting Drugs Related Intimidation report NI Drug Related Intimidation in Northern Ireland: Nature, support needs and how to respond | A Summary Report was launched last month at a joint event attended by myself and the Health Minister.

The DoH-led Drug and Alcohol Monitoring and Information System (DAMIS) is also supported by the Public Health Agency, the PSNI, Forensic Science Northern Ireland, and my Department. DAMIS serves as an early warning mechanism to detect emerging trends in substance use, enabling timely and informed responses. It monitors a range of indicators, including sudden increases in the use of specific drugs, changes in consumption methods, the appearance of new substances, and the emergence of drugs with unexpected or harmful effects. This collaborative approach ensures that relevant information and advice can be rapidly disseminated to those at risk

My Department is also a member of the Substance Use Strategy Programme Board, chaired by DoH, with this engagement helping to shape policy direction and ensuring that justice-related perspectives are embedded in the development and implementation of the Strategy’s actions, including current and emerging drug-related issues.