There is an urgent need for enhanced addiction support services and education in the community in County Laois.
That is according to Independent County Councillor Aisling Moran, who has called on the HSE and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to provide funding and support for an addiction programme here.
Cllr Moran told Laois County Council that it must “acknowledging the gaps” in immediate care available to individuals awaiting long-term treatment response.
“A study in 2020 showed that six out of every ten people have experience with addiction – be it themselves, a parent, sibling, child or friend,” Cllr Moran said.
“When a person admits that they have a problem with addiction and want help, it can take up to six to eight weeks to get a place in rehab.
“There is no intermediate service in Laois, or indeed nationwide. No helpline. No support. No aftercare.
“People have different types of addiction, yet everything is treated the same way.
“AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is a total abstinence programme that was founded in the 1930’s, and is often seen as a religious programme – this is not for everyone.”
The motion was endorsed by fellow Independent Councillor James Kelly, who agreed “there is a huge gap” in Laois.
Cllr Kelly spoke highly of Aiséirí, who provide addiction treatment in Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford for people struggling with alcohol, drug and gambling addiction.
The European Drug Report 2024 published in June shows that Ireland is the worst EU country for drug deaths, suffering four times the average fatality rate.
In 2020, Ireland had 97 deaths per million people, compared to the EU average of 23. Next was Estonia with 95, followed by Norway with 86.
There were 13,104 cases of drug-use treated according to the Health Research Board (HRB), the highest annual number ever recorded in Ireland and an increase of over one thousand compared to 2022.
There is a continued increase in cocaine use among those seeking treatment, especially among women.
Cocaine was listed as the main problem in almost 5,000 cases in 2023 and almost 40% involved people who had never been treated before.
Alcohol is still the main substance addiction people are struggling with in this country, with over 8,000 related cases last year.
This represents an increase of 10% on 2022 figures and the highest annual total in over a decade.
There has also been a significant rise in recent years of people suffering from multiple addictions.
The Rutland Centre in Dublin recorded “a dramatic surge” in 2023, with 62% of individuals presenting with multiple addictions.
This includes an additional 20% of individuals struggling with three or more substances or behaviours.
Beyond substance addiction, gambling is becoming a serious issue in Ireland, and now represents the third biggest cause for treatment, behind only alcohol and cocaine.
Figures from the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute) show approximately one in every 30 adults in Ireland (130,000) now suffer from problem gambling.
