€200,000 funding secured to reduce harm caused by crack cocaine use in Limerick

A DEDICATED service seeking to reduce the harm caused by crack cocaine use has received €200,000 to be established in Limerick.

The HSE, through its Mid-West Drug and Alcohol Service, in conjunction with the Mid-West Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum (MWRDAF) is supplying the funding for the initiative.

The Law Engagement and Assisted Recovery (LEAR) programme will be administered by Ana Liffey Mid West, working closely with An Garda Síochána and the HSE.

Limerick students develop award winning food app

LEAR is an assertive outreach and co-case management approach which involves engagement with the most vulnerable crack cocaine users, to support them in relation to harm reduction and to help them to access drug treatment programmes.

Regional coordinator of the HSE Mid West Drug and Alcohol Service Rory Keane said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the awarding of the funding to Ana Liffey Mid West to roll out a targeted response to support people using crack cocaine.

“They are amongst the most vulnerable clients we are working with, and we are confident that the LEAR approach will have a positive impact on supporting people into treatment, and by extension their families and the broader community,” Mr Keane added.

The need for the response has been identified both by an increase in clients presenting to treatment services for crack cocaine use and by the recent publication of a major new study carried out by researchers at the University of Limerick (UL) which identified the need for more focused services and interventions to help people who use crack cocaine.

Chief executive officer of Ana Liffey Drug Project Tony Duffin said: “We are very grateful to the Department of Health, the HSE and the Mid West Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum for allocating this strategic funding to Ana Liffey Drug Project.

Housing policy is ‘appalling’ says Limerick city councillor

“This will enable us to respond further to the very serious issue of crack cocaine, and other drugs, in Limerick City. I’m proud to say, that over the last 10 years, our Mid West Team has built up a great level of trust within the community of people who use drugs in Limerick City.

“We will work with people who are actively using crack cocaine, and other drugs, to reduce associated harms; and we will support those people in relation to accessing services and achieving recovery,” Mr Duffin said.

The centre is set to be operational in April 2023.