Project to help those affected by addiction
A NEW PROJECT offering vital treatment and community-integration supports to adults living with addiction and their families was launched by Minister for Health Simon Harris on Friday.
National homeless and drugs charity Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) launched their new Community Recovery and Integration Supports (CRIS) project in the Parkview Hotel on Friday evening. The community-based support service will cover the Wicklow area (excluding Bray and Blessington) and south Dublin.
The CRIS project will employ two Community Integration Workers, who are responsible for the coordination of assessment, case management and care planning for people in addiction and family members who may need support.
‘MQI is delighted to be working in partnership with the East Coast Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and the HSE in providing this service,’ said CEO of Merchants Quay Ireland Paula Byrne.
‘By working together like this, we can ensure that those in addiction get high quality and easily accessible treatment services.
‘ The CRIS project is a very important development for the people in the east coast region. The project will be providing vital rehabilitation and aftercare support to people in addiction, as well as support to families affected by addiction, making sure no person has to deal with addiction alone,’ Ms Byrne said.
Aoife Flynn Kennedy, chair of the East Coast Regional Drugs & Alcohol Task Force, said that the task force was fully behind the project.
‘ This is a very much-needed service for the east coast and the task force is committed to supporting developments like this. I would like to thank Merchants Quay Ireland for the commitment that they have shown in the delivery of this service and we look forward to working together,’ said Ms Flynn Kennedy.
The CRIS project will be jointly funded by the East Coast Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and the HSE.
People can self-refer to the project or can be referred from any other agency. To make a referral, or to arrange an appointment, call 0404 34009 or email cris@mqi.ie.