The Citizens' Assembly on Drugs will hold its third meeting this weekend at the Grand Hotel in Malahide Co. Dublin.
Commencing this morning, it will focus on the role of the health and community sectors in significantly reducing the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals and communities.
Six meetings in total will take place before recommendations are made to Government.
Chair of the Citizens' Assembly, Paul Reid, says some interesting trends have emerged from the first two meetings.
"We know that drugs are pervasive all across the country - the use of drugs. But we do know equally, it really hurts those communities who suffer higher social deprivation. So some common themes coming through: access to services being difficult in many cases, but when people can access them, getting good results in terms of treatment and recovery".
