Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke has today announced over €830,000 in funding to drug services for women with complex needs in efforts to reduce drug-related harms and premature deaths among this group.

The allocation of €833,118 over two years is being provided under the Women’s Health Action Plan to improve access to healthcare services for marginalised women. This initiative will develop integrated care pathways for high-risk drug users to achieve better health outcomes, a strategic priority under the National Drugs Strategy.

Funding will expand women’s drug services and address the specific barriers that women with complex needs can face in accessing drug treatment services. The services will be developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in association with NGO partners.

Minister Burke said:

“We know that women with problematic drug use can face added stigma and barriers in accessing drug and alcohol services. Their drug use can also be more complex due to factors such as poverty, gender-based violence and homelessness. In particular, this initiative will target women at risk of drug-related deaths.

“These new services will develop integrated care pathways for vulnerable women with complex health and social needs. The services will be informed by best European practice in services and building on successful Jane’s Place service developed by Merchants Quay Ireland. The services will link with women-only residential rehabilitation treatment facilities.’’

The new services will have two community addiction workers and a counsellor – with additional funding allocated for training, capacity building and evaluation of the project. An evaluation will be carried out after two years to measure the impact of services.

HSE National Clinical Lead for addiction services, Professor Eamon Keenan said:

“The HSE welcomes the announcement of the funding initiative under the Women’s Health Action Plan. We look forward to progressing this initiative with key stakeholders in the statutory, community and voluntary sectors. The most recent drug-related deaths figures in 2020 identified that 38% of drug poisoning deaths occurred in women. Key drivers were polysubstance use and the emergence of ‘crack’ cocaine in vulnerable women. The funding can address barriers to accessing and sustaining addiction treatment for women in targeted areas. Once the initiatives are established, the HSE intends to conduct evaluations on the effectiveness of the interventions to ensure that any future service developments in this area have a robust evidence base.”