SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has expressed serious concerns that vulnerable individuals suffering from mental health problems and addiction are falling through the gaps of current support services.
It follows three drug-related deaths within the north-west where it is suspected that pregabalin and polydrug use happened.
Mr Durkan, who is Chair of the All Party Group (APG) on Addiction and Dual Diagnosis, has written to the Public Health Agency, PSNI and Department of Health calling for a joint up approach to tackle the scourge of addiction within communities.
The Foyle MLA said: “These deaths are heartbreaking for the community and my heart goes out to the families impacted. Sadly, it’s a stark reminder of the devastating impact of drugs and addiction within our communities.
“Addiction, including polydrug use and other substance abuse, is a growing problem across the North. Individuals and families are crying out for support. While there is help out there, there’s not enough of it and what is out there isn’t adequately resourced.
“There’s nowhere near enough investment in services to tackle addiction; that’s right across the board including education, prevention and awareness training, right through to inpatient treatment and support. It’s clear there are huge gaps within the current structure of support and sadly people are falling through those gaps.
“There are fantastic organisations doing their best for service users but they’re facing extreme pressures under diminishing resources. Issues around dual diagnosis where individuals suffer from addiction and poor mental health, has resulted in a case of ‘pass the patient’ where services can’t be accessed while patients are misusing substances. As chair of the APG on Dual Diagnosis I recognise there’s a huge scale of work that needs to be done to ensure that service providers are equipped to provide patients with timely and tailored support.
“I’ve written to the Permanent Secretary for Health asking for an update on the Substance Use Strategy ‘Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery’ and how this necessary piece of work will be rolled out in the absence of an executive. This issue must be treated with the utmost urgency. The impact of addiction is frighteningly visible within Derry and on the streets of the city centre. There is a huge correlation between addiction and homelessness which needs to be addressed but I’m cognisant that the real scale of this crisis is unknown, given that many families are struggling with the grips of addiction behind closed doors.
“The number of drug-related deaths registered in Northern Ireland since 2020 have been the highest on record. That frightening reality has seen hundreds of families here devastated by the loss of a loved one. It’s crucial that efforts continue to destigmatise addiction, new models of care are explored and that access to these services is improved to get people the help they need when they need it. The PSNI also have a duty to tackle the influx of drugs within communities and crackdown on the criminal gangs involved. We need a joint up and immediate response to this crisis and help thousands of families suffering from addiction.”
