The Clare-based former Chairperson of the Mid-Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum claims the Government’s failure to tackle social inequality is leading to the increased prevalence of drug addiction.
It comes as a new report has stated the link between drug addiction and social deprivation “cannot be denied” and requires “major systemic reform”.
The report titled ‘An Exploration of the Relationship between Addiction Treatment and Geographic Deprivation’ has been presented to the Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.
It argues that “the link between drug addiction and social deprivation cannot be denied and emphasises our chronic societal issue which can only be addressed by major systemic reform”.
Responding to the publication, the Irish Medical Organisation has called for targeted investment to be prioritised in order to address rising health inequality.
Midwest-based addiction counsellor Michael Guerin says the finding come as no surprise to those in his field.
Former IMO president and member of its Public and Community Health Committee, Dr Anne Dee, is arguing that inaction by successive governments on deprivation has led to the reality outlined in the report.
Lisdoonvarna native and former president of the Mid-Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum, Michael Lacey, believes the State has had every opportunity to break this cycle.
New York-based model and personal trainer Cormac Murphy will celebrate four years of sobriety next month.
The Ennis man insists education on addiction and substances in schools must be improved.
Listen to the full interview here
