Ireland’s approach to drugs has shifted — toward harm reduction, treating addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. 

 But as drug-related violence and intimidation come more into focus, there are questions about whether that balance is right. 

 And whether compassion for addiction is coming at a cost to wider public safety.

Ciara is joined by Dr Chris Luke, a retired consultant in emergency medicine who worked within the system for years and author of Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, Johann Hari.