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Joint Committee on Health and Children A Submission From Homeless & Drugs Service 15th September 2011 www.mqi.ie

Joint Committee on Health and Children A Submission From Homeless & Drugs Service 15th September 2011 www.mqi.ie. MERCHANTS QUAY IRELAND.

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Joint Committee on Health and Children A Submission From Homeless & Drugs Service 15th September 2011 www.mqi.ie

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  1. Joint Committee on Health and ChildrenA Submission FromHomeless & Drugs Service 15th September 2011www.mqi.ie © Merchants Quay Ireland 2011

  2. 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. 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

  3. EXTENT OF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN IRELAND Current prevalence: Estimated levels of between 18,136 and 23,576 drug users nationally (Kelly et al 2009) 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

  4. TREATMENT UPTAKE • Currently nearly 10,000 people on Methadone treatment nationally (HSE 2010) • Increase from 1861 people in 1996 to nearly 10,000 people in 2010 (C.T.L. 2010) © Merchants Quay Ireland 2011

  5. TREATMENT WORKS • ROSIE Study In Ireland (2006) demonstrated: • Improved physical and mental health • Increased social functioning • Reduction in illicit drug use • Reduction in criminal and anti-social behaviour • Garda Research Unit (2003) demonstrated • Significant decrease in criminal activity associated with treatment engagement • N.T.O.R.S: British Home Office Study (2001) demonstrated • 50% reduction in criminal activity • Greatest reduction among most active offenders • Estimated £1 spent on treatment yielded £3 savings for the criminal justice system • Increased to £9 saving when health and social welfare costs included © Merchants Quay Ireland 2011

  6. CURRENT GAPS / OUTSTANDING ISSUES • Needle Exchange Services: lack of access, particularly at regional level • Waiting lists: Access to treatment extremely patchy – with waiting times of over 1 year in some areas • Detoxification: Less than 50 dedicated inpatient beds for estimated 20,000 drug users © Merchants Quay Ireland 2011

  7. CURRENT GAPS / OUTSTANDING ISSUES (cont.) • Rehabilitation: lack of access to day and residential services • Rehabilitation of Offender Act: Mechanism for expunging criminal convictions • Other Drug Use: Problematic use of prescription medications Poly drug use

  8. RECOMMENDATIONS • Needle exchange services should be expanded to cover all areas affected by problem drug use. • Waiting lists for access to drug treatment should be reduced to bring waiting time down to a maximum of four weeks. • An immediate increase in the number of dedicated detoxification beds available to those seeking to become drug free. • An increase in the number and geographical spread of dedicated detoxification beds. • An immediate increase in the number of dedicated rehabilitation places • Develop a Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. • Develop measures to ensure increased awareness of problematic use of prescription drugs and poly-drug use. © Merchants Quay Ireland 2011

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