Ireland is 'sleepwalking' into the decriminalisation of drugs, Newstalk Breakfast host Shane Coleman has said.
The final report from the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use will be published today.
The Assembly has made 36 recommendations including decriminalisation for people found in possession of drugs for personal use.
Shane Coleman said he is worried where it's going to take us.
"The war on drugs, that's all nonsense, that hasn’t worked, and drugs are everywhere in Irish society at the moment," he said.
"Lots of people who work with people who have drug addictions are in favour of this and I would respect their views - and I think it's important we discuss them.
“But I do worry we are sleepwalking into this; I worry about where this is going to take us.
"It may be best for those people who are suffering from addiction, is it best for society though?"
Shane said Ireland should not go the same way as some other European countries.
"People talk about Lisbon [and] the US; I was in Lisbon and I was offered cocaine while standing with my three kids on the street.
"I'm not sure we want to go down the American model - it has become increasingly the norm there for people to use soft drugs, if you want to use that term.
"I just am nervous about where this is going to bring us".
Vast majority 'are not drug addicts'
Host Ciara Kelly said the onus would shift from the criminal system to the health service.
"I think there's a certain naivety about it," she said.
"This idea that we can sort them all out using the health service, rather than the criminal justice system is nonsense.
"The vast majority of people who are using drugs are not drug addicts.
"Lots and lots of people take a bump of coke two or three times, they smoke a joint a couple of times a month.
"What's the health service going to do for them? Absolutely nothing.
"So, a health-based model for people who use recreational drugs occasionally, there is no role for it."
'More widespread use'
Ciara said Ireland already has enough problems with current legal drugs.
"We have enormous problems in this country with the two legal drugs that we have - alcohol and smoking," she said.
"If you make more things legal, you make the use more widespread.
"You won't put that genie back in the bottle," she added.
The Citizens' Assembly report follows six meetings last year and the submission of its recommendations to the Oireachtas.
