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Joint Committee on
Health and Children
A Submission From
Homeless & Drugs Service
15th September 2011
www.mqi.ie
© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011
MERCHANTS QUAY IRELAND
Merchants Quay Ireland is a voluntary organisation working towards the elimination
of homelessness and the development of effective treatment and support services for
drug users.
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The services we currently offer include:
Crisis contact centre/health promotion unit
National Addiction Counselling Service for the Irish Prison Service
Structured day programmes
Methadone treatment
3 month residential drug treatment programme (incl. assisted detox)
3 month farm based residential therapeutic community
Reintegration and employment programme
Training and research services
Food centre offering two meals per day and washing and shower facilities
Primary Health Care services: GPs, Nurses, Dentist, Counsellors, Podiatrist.
Settlement Service
Transitional Housing Projects
In 2010, we worked with over 5,000 drug users and people who were homeless.
© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011
EXTENT OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN IRELAND
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Current prevalence:
Estimated levels of between 18,136 and 23,576 drug users
nationally (Kelly et al 2009)
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Drug Use outside of Dublin:
Health Research Board study estimated that drug use outside
of Dublin had quadrupled over a 4 year period (H.R.B. 2004)
© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011
TREATMENT UPTAKE
Currently nearly 10,000 people on Methadone treatment
nationally (HSE 2010)
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Increase from 1861 people in 1996 to nearly 10,000
people in 2010 (C.T.L. 2010)
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© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011
TREATMENT WORKS
ROSIE Study In Ireland (2006) demonstrated:
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Improved physical and mental health
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Increased social functioning
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Reduction in illicit drug use
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Reduction in criminal and anti-social behaviour
Garda Research Unit (2003) demonstrated
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Significant decrease in criminal activity associated with treatment engagement
N.T.O.R.S: British Home Office Study (2001) demonstrated
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50% reduction in criminal activity
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Greatest reduction among most active offenders
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Estimated £1 spent on treatment yielded £3 savings for the criminal justice system
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Increased to £9 saving when health and social welfare costs included
© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011
CURRENT GAPS / OUTSTANDING ISSUES
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Needle Exchange Services:
lack of access, particularly at regional level
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Waiting lists:
Access to treatment extremely patchy – with waiting times of over 1 year in
some areas
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Detoxification:
Less than 50 dedicated inpatient beds for estimated 20,000 drug users
© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011
CURRENT GAPS / OUTSTANDING ISSUES (cont.)
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Rehabilitation:
lack of access to day and residential services
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Rehabilitation of Offender Act:
Mechanism for expunging criminal convictions
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Other Drug Use:
Problematic use of prescription medications
Poly drug use
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Needle exchange services should be expanded to cover all areas affected by
problem drug use.
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Waiting lists for access to drug treatment should be reduced to bring waiting
time down to a maximum of four weeks.
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An immediate increase in the number of dedicated detoxification beds available
to those seeking to become drug free.
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An increase in the number and geographical spread of dedicated detoxification
beds.
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An immediate increase in the number of dedicated rehabilitation places
Develop a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
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Develop measures to ensure increased awareness of problematic use of
prescription drugs and poly-drug use.
© Merchants Quay Ireland 2011