An initiative is being set up in Cork and Kerry to combat what is by far the biggest drug abused – alcohol.
Around 400 healthcare workers have just been trained to spot alcohol abuse and offer ‘coalface’ help to alcoholics.
HSE officials in the region have reported that alcohol is by far the number one abused drug, well ahead of cannabis, benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax, and heroin.
Joe Kirby, rehabilitation co-ordinator for the Cork Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force, said his organisation helped more that 2000 addicted people last year and around two-thirds were alcohol-dependant.
He said heroin addicts often used other drugs as well and when they couldn’t get heroin frequently abused a combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines.
The 400 trained for the anti-alcohol abuse project include mental health nurses, social workers, probation officers and midwives. A further 100 will be trained shortly.
Source: Sean O’Riordan, Irish Examiner, 05/06/15
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