Home > Self-harm, methadone use and drug-related deaths amongst those registered as being of no fixed abode or homeless in Ireland.

Glynn, R W and Lynn, Ena and Griffin, E and Fitzgerald, M and Ward, M (2017) Self-harm, methadone use and drug-related deaths amongst those registered as being of no fixed abode or homeless in Ireland. Irish Medical Journal, 110, (9), p. 631.

External website: http://imj.ie/self-harm-methadone-use-and-drug-rel...


This work aims to contribute to the evidence base regarding the health of those who experience homelessness in Ireland by collating data on methadone use, drug-related deaths and emergency department presentations due to self-harm. Data from the Central Methadone Treatment List (CTL), National Self-Harm Registry Ireland and the National Drug-Related Deaths Index were analysed. The percentage on the CTL registered as being of no fixed abode (NFA) or homeless increased from 2% to 7% from 2011-2014. The absolute number of presentations with deliberate self-harm from those of NFA increased by 49% from 2007-2014. The number of drug-related deaths amongst those of NFA or homeless and who died in Dublin fluctuated from 2004-13 with an overall upward trend. There is an urgent need to adequately resource and coordinate those services which aim to address factors (social and health inequalities, mental ill-health and addiction) which lead people into – and prevent them exiting from - homelessness.

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