Thank you, Llywydd. I'd like to thank Jayne Bryant for tabling this debate today and for the points she had made, and also to thank James Evans and Peredur Owen Griffiths for their contributions. Whilst Wales does not have the powers on many aspects of drug legislation and the classification of drugs, tackling the harms associated with substance misuse is a key priority for me, and an area of work that is very important within my portfolio. With both mental health and offender health also sitting with me, I will be seeking to make a difference across these areas that all too frequently come together, alongside substance misuse, to have adverse impacts on the most vulnerable in our society. In my role as Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, I have met a number of people and organisations involved in the substance misuse field, and have been really impressed at the level of work and commitment there is in this area and the passion many have to see reform. 

Substance misuse is a major health issue that affects individuals, families and communities. In Wales, our drugs policy is routed in a harm-reduction approach, which recognises substance misuse as a health and social care issue, as opposed to one that is solely related to criminal justice. In this respect, our approach differs considerably from the approach in England, and indeed it is the approach taken by all the devolved administrations. Our substance misuse delivery plan 2019-22 was revised in response to COVID-19 to reflect the work that has been and continues to be undertaken as a result of the pandemic. The revised plan was published in January 2021. The overall aim of the delivery plan continues to be to ensure that people in Wales are aware of the dangers and the impact of substance misuse, and to know where they can seek information, help and support. Our area planning boards and other partners continue to work to deliver the actions within the plan.

The Welsh Government has a strong record of commitment to this area, and we invest almost £55 million in our substance misuse agenda every year. Over £25 million of this is allocated to our substance misuse area planning boards, and almost £21 million is ring-fenced to health boards in Wales. In 2020-21, we also made a further £4.8 million available to support our response to COVID-19. Over £3 million of this supported the rapid implementation of long-lasting injectable buprenorphine for at-risk ex-heroin users. Wales is now at the forefront of implementing this new treatment across the UK, if not the world. We have not only protected the substance misuse budget, but we have also taken the opportunity to increase resources in Wales, unlike the experience of substance misuse services elsewhere in the UK.

On this point, it is worth noting that the Dame Carol Black review of treatment services in England was published in July. It is also worth noting that the UK Government were clear in the terms of reference for the review that it would not look at legislation. However, unlike the position in England, here in Wales we are already at an advanced stage with many of her recommendations. Our substance misuse delivery plan is firmly based within a health and harm-reduction approach. We've also, as I said, protected and ring-fenced our substance misuse funding, and we're working closely with housing and across mental health to address the challenge of co-occurring and complex needs. I fully agree with the review's observation that substance misuse is a chronic health condition that requires long-term follow up. In Wales, our approach remains that of harm reduction and building strong recovery communities. We are committed to tackling the issues of trauma, much of it based in adverse childhood experiences and the mental health issues faced by so many in our substance misuse services.

In Wales, we are also acutely aware that the harms of substance misuse fall disproportionately on our most deprived communities, driving health inequalities for the poorest and criminalising the vulnerable who need support and treatment. For this reason, tackling stigma and looking at substance misuse as a health issue must continue to be our focus. I strongly believe that tackling the harms of substance misuse is best achieved through supporting people into treatment, not criminalising them.