6 days ago
‘We are seeing more people, from more backgrounds' – treatment centre says residential addiction services are at capacity
Coolmine Therapeutic Community, a drug and alcohol treatment centre in Dublin, said its residential programme for mothers with young children in Ashleigh House, along with its men's residential service at Coolmine Lodge, are full.
Community services in Dublin are also nearing total occupancy after a 15.6pc increase in client presentations this year.
Coolmine CEO Pauline McKeown said: 'The sustained pressure on our residential and outreach services shows the scale of need we are responding to every day. We are seeing more people, from more backgrounds, reaching out for support.'
The charity said 414 people had been supported via an Assertive Traveller Outreach initiative, a Private Emergency Accommodations Team and Genio programmes – schemes funded by the Government and philanthropists – in the first half of the year.
Ms McKeown said a significant part of the demand was linked to emergency accommodation, mirroring wider trends reported by homeless support organisations.
In its National Addiction Trends report for the first half of this year, Coolmine found alcohol continues to be the leading substance for which people seek treatment, accounting for 40pc of presentations this year. There was a 3pc rise in presentations for alcohol addiction.
Cocaine is the second-biggest issue for people, with addiction to the drug accounting for 31pc of presentations this year. Heroin accounted for 8pc, cannabis 11pc and benzodiazepines 9pc.
Demand for our services, especially for women and families, remains incredibly high
Regional trends indicate differences in presentations. Alcohol is the most common reason for treatment in the south-west (53pc) and mid-west (34pc), but cocaine remains the leading substance in the east (36pc).
'This report provides an important insight into the addiction challenges across the country,' Ms McKeown said.
'Alcohol and cocaine remain the most prominent substances for which people are seeking help, and demand for our services – especially for women and families – remains incredibly high.
'Our teams continue to meet this need with compassion and professionalism.'
A total of 1,969 clients accessed treatment and support through Coolmine in the first half of the year. The charity said this suggests elevated service levels have become the new norm.
Nationally, 57pc of clients were male and 43pc female, reflecting an increase in female engagement compared with last year.
A total of 305 families have been supported this year. Thirty-seven parents participated in the Parents under Pressure programme, and 35 children currently live with a parent in treatment.
