Addiction statistics in Kilkenny highlighted at recent symposium

A powerful personal life story which showed the horror and struggles of drug addiction and the journey to recovery and wellbeing was shared at a symposium held in Kilkenny recently.

The event which took place at the Pembroke Hotel and was hosted by the Good Shepherd Centre and featured top experts in the area of alcohol and drug addiction, along with Patrick Owens, a former service user of The Good Shepherd Centre who has overcome his addictions and has now secured his own home in the city.

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Mr Owens told those present of his own life of addiction and how the Good Shepherd was ‘a turning point’ on his journey to recovery and well being. He spoke about getting clean, getting involved in fitness and changing the company he was in. He is now clean and content and enjoying his new home.

Lisa Robson, HSE Clinical Lead in the Substance Misuse Service in the South-East was a keynote speaker at the event and outlined how there are 514 cases recorded with an address in Kilkenny City and county in 2023 across all statutory, community and voluntary organisations according to the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (Health Research Board).

These cases included clients who were new referrals to the various services in 2023 and those who had been in treatment in previous years. Of these 514 cases 25 (4.9%) were recorded as homeless at the time of their assessment.
There were 339 new referral cases recorded with an address in Kilkenny City and County in 2023.
The data pertains to clients who accessed the statutory, community and voluntary drug and alcohol treatment services in 2023 with an address in Kilkenny City and county.

Ms Robson outlined to the symposium how 46% (156) of presentations were due to alcohol and 45.7% presented with issues pertaining to drugs. 6.5% (22) of presentations to the services were concerned persons.
In relation to drugs there were 51 new referrals for heroin abuse, 25 for cannabis and 18 for benzodiazephines.

In relation to new referrals to the addiction services locally 60% were male and 38% were female ans 2% were unknown.
21% of new referrals were aged 50 years or over while 29% of new referrals were aged between 3- and 39 years of age and only 1% were under 18 years of age.

Ms Robson also outlines how the Substance Misuse Services comprise of range of free and confidential services in Kilkenny and that this service is for anyone affected by problematic drugs or alcohol misuse and can be accessed by individuals regardless of what stage they are at, across the spectrum of addiction.

Services available to those in active addiction include nursing assessment, individual and group counselling, harm reduction techniques, prescribing clinics, blood borne virus screening, a vaccination programme and aftercare.

The services mission is to promote wellness and recovery while improving the overall quality of life for individuals and their families struggling with substance misuse.

Ms Robson also highlighted how the Substance Misuse Team also offer people an integrated model of care including drug specific interventions, general health service, assistance in accessing employment, community integration including social and recreational activities, information on housing and tenancy support and independent living. Other services provided include information around education and training and personal development; justice, law and criminal support issues; family support and childcare; budgeting and money management and aftercare.

Ms Robson also told the symposium that it is an interagency approach and a shared care model.

“Given the diversity of the supports required during rehabilitation and recovery, it is recognised that no one agency has the range of competencies, expertise or resources to meet the needs of a service user holistically.

“A key element of the services user’s rehabilitation and recovery (including treatment and aftercare) is the assurance that an integrated approach will be taken in the provision of services across HSE and all other statutory and voluntary sectors,” she said adding that the Homeless and Addiction Services work collaboratively in a shared care approach in the provision of services to meet the needs of the service user.

The symposium also heard that there are many challenges for the services including the emergence of new and more potent substances including counterfeit benzodiazepine tablets and in cannabis products, high potency MDMA and synthetic opioids (nitazenes).

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