A new interactive map has been launched to help people in Ireland quickly find addiction treatment services in their area. Developed by the Health Research Board (HRB) in collaboration with the Department of Health, the map provides a comprehensive overview of all publicly funded addiction treatment and family support services across the country (see Figure 1).[1]

Figure 1: Interactive map of addiction treatment services in Ireland

The project involved extensive collaboration with over 430 Health Service Executive (HSE) and community-based services to ensure the accuracy and accessibility of the information provided.

The user-friendly tool allows individuals to search for services by address or simply zoom in on their location to view available options. Detailed information is provided for each service, including type of facility (community-based or residential), target groups (adults, young people), and specific treatments offered (counselling, etc.). Users can also filter results based on the type of addiction they are struggling with, whether alcohol, drugs or gambling, etc.

The map is based on data from the HRB’s National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS). The HRB will update the map regularly to ensure that people who need treatment have access to the most up-to-date information.

Ireland is leading the way in Europe with this innovative approach to presenting addiction treatment information. The map is expected to serve as a model for presenting information to the general public, policy-makers, practitioners, and funders.

[1] The interactive map is available from the HRB National Drugs Library website:
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/services_map