Campaigners and grieving families are criticising drug reform in Northern Ireland as they highlight heartbreaking delays in addiction treatment in Derry.

A Mother’s Grief Sparks a Call for Drug Reform Northern Ireland

When Pauline Duddy’s daughter Jasmin passed away in February 2023 after taking pregabalin and other substances, Pauline’s world changed forever. A devoted mother from Derry, Pauline has channelled her personal loss into a powerful campaign for change in Northern Ireland’s approach to addiction treatment and drug policy.

Last week, Pauline met with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont. Her message was clear and direct: the current system for addiction treatment Derry and across Northern Ireland isn’t working. Appointment letters for urgently needed support are arriving days too late, sometimes after families have already buried their loved ones.

“I told them that letters for young people are coming in, for appointments, after they’re dead and buried – it’s too little, too late,” Pauline told Belfast Live. “People have contacted me from around Northern Ireland to say that they got a letter three days after their daughter or son died inviting them for an appointment for drug addiction.”

Addiction Treatment Derry Failing Young People

The situation highlighted by Pauline is not an isolated case. Across Northern Ireland, parents and loved ones are reporting similar painful delays. Addiction treatment Derry remains stretched and under-resourced, leaving vulnerable young people at risk.

Pauline has continually expressed her frustration with both the justice and health systems. Despite support from the community, the response from official channels has often left bereaved families feeling abandoned. She explained to government officials that services in Northern Ireland are “not equipped to deal with the high levels of addiction.”

Demanding Accountability for Drug Reform Northern Ireland

Determined to push for real drug reform Northern Ireland, Pauline has staged protests at Derry’s Bishop Street courthouse and lobbied politicians and judiciary members for tougher sentencing laws. Her demands are specific:

• Immediate improvement in addiction treatment access, especially in Derry
• Introduction of an “aggravating factor” for sentencing when vulnerable individuals are targeted by drug suppliers
• Recognition that punitive measures alone will not address the underlying health crisis

Pauline wants to see sentences reflect the harm done to families and communities, not just numbers in the court system. In December 2023, Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan’s office clarified that courts cannot impose automatic maximum sentences in these cases and declined requests for a direct meeting.

Justice Minister Naomi Long previously met with Pauline but has yet to commit to significant reforms addressing the urgent failures in the addiction treatment system.

Systemic Issues in Addiction Treatment Derry

The delays in appointment letters have become a painful symbol of Northern Ireland’s wider struggles with drug reform. Multiple families have shared stories with Pauline about receiving help letters addressed to loved ones who had already died from drug misuse.

A System Not Fit for the Crisis

Families, campaigners, and health professionals are voicing their concerns, agreeing that addiction treatment services in Derry and across Northern Ireland are overwhelmed. With more young people than ever seeking help for drug misuse, waiting lists continue to grow, and resources remain scarce. Appointments arrive too late for many, leaving bereaved parents to cope with the aftermath.

Lack of Strategic Focus in Drug Reform Northern Ireland

Both policy and enforcement face criticism. Pauline says, “Neither [minister] seemed aware that drug supply is treated as a crime against the state, and it’s victimless.” She argues strongly that drug supply to vulnerable individuals should be viewed as an aggravated offence, particularly given the sharp rise in fatalities among young people.

The Response from Political Leaders

Following their meeting with Pauline, First Minister O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Little-Pengelly issued a statement saying they “reaffirmed their commitment to work with Executive colleagues to address drug and alcohol-related harm.” Yet, for Pauline and many others, words must translate into urgent action on drug reform Northern Ireland and addiction treatment Derry.

Government leaders face mounting pressure to both toughen penalties on those who exploit vulnerable people and, crucially, to overhaul the health services supporting those who are struggling with addiction.

Where Do We Go from Here? Action Needed for Addiction Treatment Derry

The stories emerging from Derry and beyond paint a stark picture of a system under strain. Campaigners like Pauline are not calling for sympathy but for meaningful, lifesaving reform. They demand:

• Faster, more flexible addiction treatment for all regions, with special attention to high-need areas like Derry
• Greater collaboration between health services, justice, and families to close the dangerous gaps in care
• Policies that address addiction as a critical health crisis, not solely a criminal justice matter

Failing to act on drug reform Northern Ireland risks more families experiencing the same devastating loss as Pauline Duddy. With human lives at stake, the time for reform and real investment in addiction treatment Derry is long overdue.