‘Stigma’ remains a barrier to accessing drug support services
THE STIGMA attached to drug and alcohol addiction, often reinforced by negative and stereotyping language, remains a major barrier to people accessing services, the latest meeting of the County Monaghan Local Community Safety Partnership was told by Zoe Wells.
Ms Wells was presenting to the meeting on the work the Cavan and Monaghan Drug and Alcohol Service (CAMDAS), the community-based addiction service she co-ordinates on behalf of Merchants Quay Dublin, a national charity operating in the areas of addiction, homelessness and social exclusion.
She said that CAMDAS provides person-centred therapeutic support and one-to-one planning and guidance for adults dealing with substance use issues, and a range of family support programmes as well as a drug rehabilitation Community Employment scheme. It is based at Acot House on the Farnham Road in Cavan and has weekly outreach sessions at the Teach na nDaoine Family Resource Centre in Monaghan Town.
“One of the biggest problems our clients face is stigma,” Ms Wells told the meeting. “The judgement they face can delay people seeking treatment and accessing healthcare, housing and employment. It can also undermine the trust between communities and support services so we need to reduce stigma and the barriers to people accessing treatments.”
Ms Wells referred to the power of language and encouraged people to avoid negative terminology such as “addict” or “user” when speaking to or writing about people with substance use disorders.
“I want to shift the language that is used both outside and within services,” she stated. “At CAMDAS, it is always the person first, they are not defined by their drug or alcohol use.”
Drug-related deaths
She noted that in 2022 there were 343 drugs-related deaths nationally, compared to 155 road deaths that year. While she hailed the focus on road safety campaigns in recent years, she said she would like to see the same level of support and awareness focus on drugs-related fatalities.
The co-ordinator said the health region in which CAMDAS operates has one of the highest rates of referrals for treatment, with a significant level of the people attempting to access treatment being unemployed, and many of them also dealing with mental health issues. The majority of their referrals are for alcohol addiction, but they also deal with referrals relating to cannabis, cocaine, heroin and prescribed medications.
Statistical trends, Ms Wells outlined to the meeting, indicate a notable increase in referrals for cocaine addiction, and a slight increase in the number of referrals by GPs for prescribed medication addiction.
Alcohol remains the primary factor in referrals across all age groups, but the service is seeing referrals for more than one substance on occasions.
Ms Wells also spoke of the complexity of referrals, which can be linked to domestic violence and also require a need for housing and mental health supports.
Cllr Noel Keelan (SF) said it is most concerning that addiction-related fatalities are at a higher level than road deaths. Road safety campaigns run on an almost weekly basis on radio, TV and at local level and, rightly so, but he doesn’t see the same visibility for anti-drug campaigns or sensible drinking initiatives.
“More needs to be done,” he urged. “People have short attention spans and we have to keep getting the message across.”
LCSP Chairperson Cllr Alan Johnston hoped that the partnership’s community safety action plan, to be launched shortly, can assist with some of the issues highlighted in the presentation.
CONTACT DETAILS
CAMDAS, the Cavan Monaghan Drugs and Alcohol Service, is based at Acot House, Drumnvanagh, Farnham Road, Cavan Town with opening hours of Monday-Friday 9 am-5.30 pm.
The service can be contacted by phone on 049 4379160 or by email on info.cavan.monaghan@mqi.ie
CAMDAS also operates out of Teach na nDaoine Family Resource Centre, Oriel Way, Monaghan Town one day a week.