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Alcohol Addiction Services: Ireland’s Alcohol Problem Needs More Free Resources & Funding
As a rehab facility in Ireland, we know all too well about the lack of quality alcohol addiction resources and services available in the country.
That’s one of the primary reasons that we opened Smarmore Castle in 2015 in County Louth. After seeing success from our facilities in Scotland and abroad, we saw the alcohol crisis in Ireland and knew that we could do something to help.
If you feel alone and that there is nothing available to help you, look no further.
Here at Smarmore Castle, we treat alcoholism with detoxes and evidence-based therapy programmes to help you be the person you were meant to be. Talk to us about alcohol addiction treatment.
250,000 Alcohol-Dependent People in Ireland in Need of In-Depth Help
Alcohol Action Ireland has reported that certain treatment facilities and free services available for those battling an alcohol addiction are “woefully inadequate” – an area that needs much more focus and investment.
One of the board members of Alcohol Action Ireland and public health doctor; Professor Joe Barry noted that many people suffering from alcoholism do not come forward for help because there is a lack of facilities that exist to help them.
Commenting for RTE.ie, he said that: “our fellow citizens would do much better if there was a more widespread service provision across the country”.
More worryingly half of those affected by alcoholism are parents of children, which could influence the next generation and cause traumatic situations that might encourage further substance abuse in the future.
The HSE Spends €160M on Drug and Alcohol Services
Whilst there is some money available to help those suffering from alcoholism, the truth is that the majority of this specific funding goes to illegal drug services.
Dr. Barry has urged that the current review of the National Substance Misuses and Alcohol Strategy will need to outline more transparently exactly how much funding is planned to go towards alcohol services.
Dr. Barry has also urged that the alcohol industry be held accountable and pay for the damage it has caused through the sale of alcoholic products.
More and More People This Year Turned To Alcohol
During the lockdown, many more people turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism. As a harsh reality, alcohol is a psychoactive substance, which can cause many major general and mental health difficulties.
What Dr. Barry urges is that it’s not just the level of alcohol that is now being consumed, but the consequences of it; intimate partner violence and domestic violence have increased as a result.
Not only this, but the effect this will have on the children of alcoholics needs to be noted. Dr Barry has advised that a network of services will be needed, which are “trauma-informed” as alcohol abuse is often a trigger in major traumas in childhood.
Personalised Treatment
Standards Need to Be Monitored
Alongside the call for more community-based services, residential facilities, and further support work, Dr. Barry comments that these services need to be closely watched and managed.
It is not just enough to have these places established but to ensure that they provide a level of care that helps victims achieve sobriety and sustained recovery.
There’s Help if You Know Where to Look For It
Ireland is home to many charitable and free alcohol addiction resources, however, in our own experience as a medical rehab facility, we know how often people feel let down by the services, or feel that they are too inadequate to help their serious mental health conditions.
Smarmore Castle looks to treat the reasons you drink in the first place and help to reverse the behaviours that alcohol has caused you to adopt.
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Dig Deeper
- Ireland’s Alcoholism Stats
- How to Know When a Loved One Needs Alcohol Rehab
- Types of Alcoholics Addiction in Ireland
- Alcohol and Suicide: Statistics, Causes, Alcohol Abuse
- Advice for Helping Someone with an Alcohol Problem
- What are the Signs of Alcohol Addiction?
