DRIVE: Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement. An interagency response in Ireland
A data-driven intervention model to respond effectively to drug-related intimidation and violence in communities in Ireland.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy (NDS) announced an additional funding of €1 million in March 2019 for the implementation of Reducing Harm Support Recovery; A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. Funding was awarded to to the DRIVE (Drug-related Intimidation & Violence Engagement) Project.
As part of the project, independent research was commissioned to examine drug-related intimidation (DRI) in communities in Ireland, and what resources, systems and structures exist currently, or could be developed in the future to tackle DRI. The objectives of the research were to: engage and consult with stakeholders from the community and from services; and to develop a data driven model of intervention to respond to DRI.
From January to June 2021, the following took place:
- 36 semi-structured interviews were carried out with organisations from the community, voluntary and statutory agencies
- 4 online group discussions with the local and regional drug and alcohol task force networks, regional Garda Inspectors and the HSE National Addiction Advisory Governance Group
- 4 meetings of the DRIVE Oversight Committee to initiate the research and then finalise recommendations.
Pillars
The data-driven intervention model that has been developed comprises of six key pillars which, collectively, provide a comprehensive response to DRI:
Pillar 1 Capacity Building and Shared Commitment To develop an increased understanding of DRI and improve the capacity of front line workers and relevant organisations to respond effectively.
Pillar 2 Data Collection and Analysis To increase both real time and retrospective reporting of DRI, leading to increased knowledge of DRI prevalence and trends in local communities
Pillar 3 Information Sharing To connect organisations and share information to enable solution-focused approaches and supports at local, regional and national levels
Pillar 4 Community Level Supports To develop, design and implement data-informed and evidence based community level supports to tackle DRI focused on prevention, desistance and suppression
Pillar 5 Law Enforcement To support responsive policing aligned to area-based data ranging from harm reduction approaches to aggressive investigations & ‘pulling levers’
Pillar 6 Legislation & systemic change To enable the pursuit of strategic, policy and legislative changes required to bring about increased convictions and reduce incidents of DRI
Publications
Read the DRIVE executive summary here
Read DRIVE Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement. An interagency response in Ireland. A data-driven intervention model to respond effectively to drug-related intimidation and violence in communities in Ireland here
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