On Thursday 28th January a group of Irish and international experts and advocates of drug law reform came together in Buswells Hotel, Dublin to call for one thing – to make 2016 the year we reduce the harm people who use drugs can cause themselves. The symposium, organised by Help Not Harm’s Graham de Barra, saw Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour TD) and Jonathan O’Brien (Sinn Fein TD) discuss their respective parties’drug strategies with Cormac O’Keefe and reflect on the tragic events in Cork earlier this month.
Those on the day tweeted their responses using #reduceharm16. We have compiled some of the best chronologically below.
Good luck @HelpNotHarmIE with your drug policy symposium today. Looking forward to reading interesting tweets with the hashtag #reduceharm16
— Ireland / Laura (@ireland) January 28, 2016
Exec Director of @ICCLtweet @Blackhall99 will be speaking at the @HelpNotHarmIE inaugural symposium this morning – follow #reduceharm16
— ICCLtweet 🏳️🌈 (@ICCLtweet) January 28, 2016
Beautiful morning in Dublin @ireland for the @HelpNotHarmIE symposium #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/PCQvMRjORi
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692631681803640832
Out back of the Dail, an important discussion takes place. All politicians welcome – it's time to #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/nX1xkOrX6I
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
#reduceharm16 Looking forward to reading live Tweets from the discussion between @AodhanORiordain & @JOBrien_SF chaired by @CormacJOKeeffe.
— Ireland / Laura (@ireland) January 28, 2016
Follow #reduceharm16 today for updates on today's event from @HelpNotHarmIE ft. @AodhanORiordain @BinghamInfo, @CormacJOKeeffe @JOBrien_SF
— SSDP Ireland (@SSDPIRELAND) January 28, 2016
All set to go @HelpNotHarmIE symposium in Dublin #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/nDRPEmWe6L
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
First panel for #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/rFmcLWHRqV
— Tim Bingham (@BinghamInfo) January 28, 2016
Graham de Barra opening @HelpNotHarmIE symposium in @BuswellsHotel this morning #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/4ECSdh0q7B
— Stillwater (@StillwaterIE) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692637054841294848
Dr Catherine Comiskey of @tcddublin #reduceharm16 @trinitynews @HelpNotHarmIE pic.twitter.com/4ld3ClT7j1
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692637533000327168
https://twitter.com/Emily_Glen/status/692639166451077120
Fr. Peter McVerry of @PMVTrust pointing out how difficult it is to cut all ties with drug taking #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/zim4oBbLzo
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
Exec Director @ICCLtweet discussing civil rights based approach to drugs at @HelpNotHarmIE symposium #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/kdC78tak1B
— ICCLtweet 🏳️🌈 (@ICCLtweet) January 28, 2016
"There are 200,000 drug related deaths worldwide" Mark Kelly of Irish Council for Civil Liberties @ICCLtweet speaking at #reduceharm16
— Help Not Harm (@HelpNotHarmIE) January 28, 2016
Mark Kelly of Irish Council of Civil Liberties calling for drug users rights to be respected #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/esD7lBV2Pi
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
@AodhanORiordain attending @HelpNotHarmIE symposium #reduceharm16. When will we see ministers #stoptheharm in the UK?
— George McBride (@GeorgeMcBride1) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692644950484336640
"Social stigmatisation is an intended outcome of criminalisation." Very interesting words from Damon Barrett at @HelpNotHarmIE #reduceharm16
— Becky Bury (@bury_becky) January 28, 2016
At @HelpNotHarmIE – both @DamonHRDP & @Blackhall99 discussing how law is applied disproportionately to some social groups #reduceharm16
— ICCLtweet 🏳️🌈 (@ICCLtweet) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692653116542554112
Cork TD @JOBrien_SF speaking about what happened in cork last week #syntheticdrugs #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/3hvbjzLX2V
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
Remarkable and refreshing political consensus emerging between @AodhanORiordain & @JOBrien_SF on #reduceharm16 needs pic.twitter.com/xLjkVHc1Pg
— Mark Kelly (@Blackhall99) January 28, 2016
Sinn Fein to bring forward a new drug policy at the Ard Fheis in April #reduceharm16
— Help Not Harm (@HelpNotHarmIE) January 28, 2016
Interview with @AodhanORiordain and @JOBrien_SF with @CormacJOKeeffe underway @HelpNotHarmIE symposium #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/Aww1VzOHTD
— Becky Bury (@bury_becky) January 28, 2016
"Decriminalise the individual not the substance" Aodhan O'Riordan #reduceharm16
— Ross McNulty (@RossMcNulty3) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Emily_Glen/status/692657243242807297
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692659077265149952
'An Irish model for an Irish solution' @JOBrien_SF at @HelpNotHarmIE #reduceharm16
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
"We need an Irish model that works for us. If it saves one life, it's worth it." #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/PSyF3uv3lP
— Róisín Davis (@Roisin_Davis) January 28, 2016
Help Not Harm Symposium #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/2sEZc0yHyE
— Volteface (@VoltefaceHub) January 28, 2016
Josie Smith of Public Health Wales talking to media at the @HelpNotHarmIE symposium in @BuswellsHotel #reduceharm16 pic.twitter.com/tjttGNAt0N
— Becky Bury (@bury_becky) January 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/themarkcullen/status/692682635458514944
https://twitter.com/Clay_Darcy/status/692685879387799553
https://twitter.com/themarkcullen/status/692742911037984769
I was happy to open the debate this morning at the Help Not Harm Symposium looking at Drug Policy #ReduceHarm16 pic.twitter.com/pzZpFSDoVl
— Catherine Comiskey (@ComiskeyCath) January 28, 2016
Thank you to all our panelists and attendees at #reduceharm16 Pictured is @DamonHRDP imparting knowledge and wisdom. pic.twitter.com/5O1CW0oX9M
— Help Not Harm (@HelpNotHarmIE) January 29, 2016