These were some of the headline recommendations from the union’s new position paper on ‘Addiction and Dependency’ launched today.
“We need to sever the link between alcohol and sports for once and for all,” said IMO President Dr Ray Walley.
“As a country we can’t continue to be indifferent to the damage being done to young people by the scourge of alcohol.
“Addiction and dependency are some of the most challenging public health policy issues of recent times and IMO doctors are advocating for sensible and workable measures that should be examined by legislators and policy-makers to loosen the grip that substance abuse and addiction has placed on large tracts of our society.”
In terms of substance abuse the union recommends the imposition of mandatory life sentences for all those convicted of major drugs trafficking crimes.
The launch in Dublin this morning also saw Dr Walley emphasise the growing problems around gambling addiction in the country. In response the union has called for regulatory controls “including those that limit the intensity or frequency of gambling service advertisements”.
