Families of addicts to be left without support if closure goes ahead
One of the 77 recommendations made by Vivian Guerin in his report into criminality and drug use in Drogheda commissioned by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee was that the State funding of just €7,500 for the Family Addiction Network (FASN) should be reviewed upwards.
Not much has happened in the meantime though, and FASN, which provides support to families dealing with the fallout from a family member in addiction, especially drug-related intimidation, are gravely concerned that they will be forced to close their doors in the next few weeks due to lack of funds.
After nearly 20 years supporting family members and loved ones of those in addiction, FASN Project Coordinator Jackie McKenna is gravely concerned that without appropriate funding being allocated, FASN will have to close their doors by July and turn desperate family members away without support.
“It is simply impossible for us to continue providing the level of support services we do without appropriate funding” Ms McKenna said, “We have two full time volunteers, and a number of part time volunteers who give up their time week in and week out.
“But the level of time and support being given on a volunteer basis cannot be maintained as the demand for our services is growing substantially week in, week out. For our organisation to survive into the future and for us to deliver a sustainable service consistently, ethically and safely – we need €138,000“.
“We are now in a desperate position and really are just going back to the drawing board calling on our local politicians, the HSE and government to help us to work out what funding can be committed to us quickly that is feasible and sustainable.
“As a group we are fully committed to providing support services to desperate family members who should never have to cope alone with their family member’s addiction and the chaos and devastation it brings.
“We do not want to stop providing our services and supporting members of our community, so we are calling on the Government to ensure that we do not have to turn anyone away and tell them we cannot offer them support – simply due to a lack of funding.
“Our very real fear is if we close our doors – where will the people – parents, partners, children and siblings – turn to if we are not there. Who out there is willing to help them?”
“Over the last 20 years we have built a support model that we know works – a model that makes a real difference to family member’s lives. If this support model is supported with €138,000 amount of funding – we can make a real difference to families experiencing addiction issues – which in turn benefits the wider community.”
Ms McKenna told Drogheda life that FASN is run by volunteers who have lived with addiction and now support families in four counties in the North East affected by drugs and alcohol.
She said that numbers have increased dramatically in the Drogheda Family Support Group in recent months.
“We have applied to the HSE for funding, done everything we have been asked to do to support the application but we have still had no final commitment from them.
“We have invited TD’s across the North East to meet with us and to call on the Government for immediate financial intervention to keep the service open to enable FASN continue to deliver a life line to incredibly vulnerable families” she said, adding – “The measure of any healthy society is how they treat their most vulnerable.”
Independent Councillor Paddy McQuillan who has been a long-time supporter of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services and had a proposal that the proceeds of crime should be used to fund them included in the Geiran report, said that if FASN are not able to continue with the service they provide there will be “catastrophic” consequences for individuals and their families dealing with addiction.
“It is now three months since the Geiran report was made public and one of the recommendations in that report was funding for FASN. The service operates on a full time voluntary basis” he said.
“This is unacceptable. If the service discontinues the knock on effect on other addiction services, who are already stretched to capacity, will unfortunately leave many people without the service and support they need.
“The lack of action from the minister on delivering the action plan for the seventy plus recommendations is already having grave consequences.
“I call on all five TD’s in the county to get their act together and apply whatever pressure is needed to get the Geiran Report Action Plan in place in order for the recommendations’ to be implemented.
“That report is gathering dust on a desk in the Dail while individuals and their families are at grave risk of losing vital services. This invaluable service is vital for the wellbeing of the people of the north east.”
