The minister said the belief that addiction only affected certain people and communities was “complete and utter bull”.
Addiction is an issue in every community and families affected by it are suffering.
“This is a reality for people and we got to start talking about it. It is a health crisis. It really is. It is a public health epidemic,” he said.
“I do think there is a lot of the same ignorant stigma that we have had around other social issues – that it only happens to certain people. Nonsense. We need to call time on it."
Mr Harris told the Oireachtas committee on health that he intends doing a lot more to help families affected by addiction.
Britain has a helpline for families affected by addiction and he wants to explore ways of helping Irish families in the same situation.
Source: Evelyn Ring, Irish Examiner, 11th December 2019
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