NACD
Hawkins House
Hawkins St.
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6354283
Email: nacd@nacd.ie
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Caroline Corr Presentation
Injecting Drug Use
- 19% of total sample currently injecting drugs
(27% of Dublin sample)
- 74% of current heroin users were injecting
(16% of total sample were injecting heroin users)
- 63% of current
cocaine users were injecting
(10% of total sample were injecting cocaine users)
Risk Behaviour
| Risk Behaviour |
% of current injectors |
Inject in public places |
54% |
Inject alone |
46% |
Never inject self |
15% |
Inject in groin |
22% |
Sharing Paraphernalia |
53% |
Used a needle after someone else |
20% |
Experience of accidental overdose |
20% |
Changes in Drug Use
Changes in Drug Use
- Changes noted in primary drug/routes of administration and increased
frequency/quantity
Changes in Injecting Behaviour
- Changes noted in different types of drugs, greater quantities
of drugs, using more frequently and less safely
HIV
| |
HIV Test |
Total study population |
52% |
Problematic drug users |
80% |
Hepatitis C
| |
Hepatitis C positive |
Among those tested for hepatitis C |
47% |
Total study population |
23% |
Dublin sample |
21% |
Galway sample |
11% |
Cork sample |
6% |
Limerick sample |
6% |
Problematic drug users |
51% |
Injectors |
60% |
Receiving Treatment |
13% |
Psychiatric Issues
- 48% reported concerns about psychiatric health
| Experience of Psychiatric
Services |
% of total population |
% of problematic
drug users |
Ever undergone a psychiatric assessment |
42% |
44% |
Ever admitted to a psychiatric hospital |
30% |
29% |
Ever diagnosed with a psychiatric illness |
30% |
29% |
- 70% of those diagnosed receiving treatment (60% of problematic
drug users diagnosed receiving treatment
Gaps in Drug Service Provision: the Provider
Perspective (1)
- no drug service interviewed had a policy on homeless drug users
- Difficulties
meeting multiple needs
- Quality of services
Gaps in Drug Service Provision: the Provider Perspective (2)
- Needle Exchanges: lack of needle exchanges outside Dublin;
absence of needle exchanges in the evenings and at weekends in
Dublin
- Methadone Maintenance: area-based treatment provision;
waiting
lists; keeping appointments; harsh sanctioning for failing urinalysis;
problems having to attend methadone clinics daily
- Drug Treatment: not enough detox and residential beds; delay between assessment
and drug treatment; routine and structure; lack of aftercare
Gaps in Homeless Service Provision: the Provider
Perspective
- Few services with official policy on drug use, possession and
dealing
- Lack of knowledge and training around drug users
- Difficulties addressing multiple needs
- Safety issues
- Tackling traditional view of homelessness
- Limited range of low threshold services
- Poor quality of some accommodation services
- Lack of move-on options
Developing Drug Services
- range of harm reduction services
- methadone maintenance and drug
treatment: flexible, less structured, take a holistic approach,
access accommodation
- respite care
- more aftercare
Developing Homeless Services
- promoting multi-disciplinary
work
- specialist service provision
- remaining flexible
- increase in resources and funding
- develop range of accommodation
options
Policy Implications
- increased co-ordination and joint working relationships between
sectors
- implementation of a continuum of care model
- development of organisational policies to positively include
homeless drug users
- development of homeless services to accommodate homeless
drug users
- increase the availability, capacity and effectiveness
of drug treatment and harm reduction services
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<< Back to Seminar
on Drug Use Among the Homeless.
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