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FESAT Best Practice Exchange Partnership, Utrecht, Sept 2010.
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FESAT Best Practice Exchange Partnership, Utrecht, Sept 2010
“The HSE Drugs/HIV Helpline is a confidential, freephone, active listening service offering non-directive support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related to substance use and/or HIV and sexual health”
Background Established in 1997 (In 1996, a prominent crime journalist called Veronica Guerin was murdered due to her reporting of the criminal drug world in Ireland. Her death led to radical changes in drug treatment and funding of services) The Helpline is Funded by the HSE (Health Service Executive) and is accessible throughout Ireland (pop.4 million approx)
Staffing • Helpline Manager, Aileen Dooley, (currently on maternity leave) • 4 Helpline Staff Members (All Female) 2 full time & 2 part time • Helpline open Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm
Calls to Helpline • Our Helpline offers 2 Services: • A Drug Helpline • A Sexual Health / HIV Helpline
Advertisement/Publicity • Our number is in the phonebook under ‘Emergency Numbers’ • Our number is on various websites, people search google using Drug helpline or HIV Helpline • We do ‘post out’ campaigns annually to: all police stations nationwide, Credit Unions, Health Centres, GP’S, Social Workers, Citizens Information Centres, Counselling & Psychotherapy Services
Campaigns • Our Number is used for Nationwide campaigns • Most recently – ‘Legal highs/Head Shop Products’ – June 2010 • Codeine – August 2010
Trends in calls • Drug most referred to is Cannabis • 62% of calls in 2009, were from a 3rd party • 34% 3rd party calls were from mothers • 18% of calls are about HIV/ Sexual health • In 2009 Cannabis was referred to in 25% of calls Heroin was referred to in 24% of calls & alcohol in 14% of calls
Referrals Provided To Callers We refer a caller on in 86% of our calls Referral Breakdown For 2009 Counsellor 19% Support Group 17% GP 10% Treatment Centre 10% HIV/STI Clinic 9% Callback 8% Other 8% Community Project 6% Outreach Worker 5% Rehab 4% Post Out Info 4%