The Ana Liffey Drug Project (ALDP) is a low-threshold, harm reduction project working with people who are actively using drugs and experiencing associated problems. ALDP has been offering harm reduction services to people in the north inner city area of Dublin since 1982, from premises at Middle Abbey Street. ALDP offers a wide variety of low-threshold, harm reduction services that provide pathways for drug users out of their current circumstances, including addiction and homelessness.

The services offered in Dublin include:

• Open access
• Assertive outreach
• Needle and Syringe Programme
• Medical services
• Stabilisation group
• Detoxification group
• Harm reduction group
• Treatment options group
• Assessment for residential treatment
• Key working and case management
• Prison in-reach.

Midwest region

The ALDP Midwest region provides harm reduction services in Limerick city and three counties to people affected by problematic substance use, their families, and the wider community. The counties served are Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary. The ALDP Online and Digital Services Team also offers support and information to the general public and to people who use drugs, as well as to other agencies that work with people with problematic drug use.

Annual report

The ALDP annual report 2023 was published in 2024.1 The report noted that in 2023 the Dublin Private Emergency Accommodation Assertive Case Management Team assessed 1,099 people, with 882 individuals being provided with personal care plans. A total of 836 outreach interventions were conducted as part of the Dublin Law Engagement Assisted Recovery Programme. In 2023, the ALDP nursing team moved permanently into a premises on Dominick Place in Dublin, which now has a new, high-tech treatment room. A range of health issues is treated, including chronic venous ulcers, which are common among intravenous drug users. ALDP also addresses related health concerns such as poor nutrition, housing problems, diabetes, and anaemia.

In the Midwest region, there were 3,488 Needle and Syringe Programme/harm reduction interventions in 2023. ALDP also launched a dedicated team in Limerick to reduce harm from crack cocaine use. The project, part of the Law Engagement and Assisted Recovery (LEAR) initiative, received €200,000 in funding from the Health Service Executive’s Mid West Regional Drug and Alcohol Service. The launch followed the publication of a study by University of Limerick researchers on the health and social impacts of crack cocaine in Limerick.2

1    Ana Liffey Drug Project (2024) Ana Liffey Drug Project annual report 2023. Dublin: Ana Liffey Drug Project. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/41996/

2    Duopah YA, Elmusharaf K, Moran L and Kelly D (2023) Doing more: the health and social impacts of crack cocaine use in Limerick City. Dublin: Ana Liffey Drug Project. Available from:
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/38132/