Minister for Drugs welcomes new Drug Treatment Services

Posted on 09/10/09 by John Curran Minister for Drugs, John Curran, T.D., warmly welcomed the today's HSE announcement of the planned provision of substantially increased Drug Treatment Services at locations across the South of the country from Wexford to Kerry. The Minister, who attended the announcement in Cork today, confirmed that the initiatives are being part-funded by the Office of the Minister for Drugs.

Minister Curran said, "At the recent launch of the National Drugs Strategy I stressed the necessity of inter-agency working to achieve the optimum impact on the drugs problem in Ireland. I have made the achievement of a co-ordinated approach to the drugs problem one of my main aims as Minister for Drugs. Thus, I am particularly happy with today's announcement, one of the features of which is the level of co-operation and joined up working involved between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

New Treatment Services for Heroin Users
The announcement includes new treatment services, for heroin users, in particular, in Cork, Waterford, Tralee and Enniscorthy, with improved services also in the Carlow/ Kilkenny region. "The Government recognises that heroin use is no longer confined to the Dublin region and these centres represent a huge advance in the putting in place of a network of services where they are needed around the country. Many drug users and their families will benefit greatly and quickly from this initiative. Combined with the envisaged greater GP involvement in drug treatment, this initiative will have a significant impact across the region." said the Minister.

Counselling services for all drug users
Minister Curran also stressed the importance of the greatly increased counselling services that will be made available through the collaboration of the HSE and the voluntary sector to benefit 400 people annually. "These services will help people who used a range of different drugs, including cocaine," he said.

Rehabilitation
Minister Curran continued "I have stressed the importance of rehabilitation and the need to empower people who used drugs to access the social, economic and cultural benefits of life. Today's announcement of 5 dedicated detoxification beds - four for adults in Cork and one for adolescents at the Aislinn Centre in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, will bring real hope and prospects for recovery to many. Allied to this is the announcement of the appointment of two Rehabilitation Link Workers (one based in Cork and one in Waterford). Such appointments are crucial to achieve the implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Drugs and they will co-ordinate interagency working in the area of rehabilitation across the South.

Treatment Support Projects run by Regional and Local Drugs Task Forces
Today's announcement also sees funding being allocated to treatment support projects run by Drugs Task Forces. "This comprehensive approach across the community, voluntary and state sectors is the key to addressing the drugs problem in Ireland," said the Minister, who is currently conducting meetings with all 24 Drugs Task Forces.

"The National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 launched last month sets out the Government's framework to comprehensively address the drugs problem. I am committed to the implementation of the Strategy. Achieving this will necessitate the achievement of improved performance in a situation of limited resources. That is why I am particularly encouraged by today's announcement which illustrates what can be achieved when resources are pooled to increase the overall impact", concluded the Minister.