€8 million PEACEPLUS boost for community-based alcohol addictions services in the border region

The Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) Partnership has launched its €8 million PEACEPLUS-funded Community Alcohol Detox + Project (CAD+).

CAD+ is a collaborative cross-border project comprising five partner organisations who will work with community and voluntary sector organisations, to support 1,000 people impacted by alcohol dependence, and their families / carers.

The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It has received €8,002,891 in funding.

It aims to improve the health and well-being of people experiencing alcohol dependence, provide wrap-around and aftercare support and education, and provide tailored, personalised support to help address broader societal issues.

Launched in Monaghan, the Community Alcohol Detox + project will offer a home/community-based alcohol detox programme to those assessed as ready to detox, followed by post-detox community-led support. Furthermore, a harm reduction programme will be offered to those deemed not ready for detox, by participation in alternative community-based programmes.

Overall, it is anticipated the project will lead to a reduction in the number of inpatient detox and alcohol-related hospital admissions, and also help to prevent unnecessary, repeated referrals between addiction and mental health services.

Through a cross-border collaborative approach, CAD+ offers a unique opportunity for both jurisdictions to share and co-operate in enhancing and augmenting existing addiction services in the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas and in the HSE border counties.

The cross-border launch event was attended by key stakeholders including health and social care professionals and leaders, addiction services and government representatives.

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD said: “Addiction continues to have negative impacts on people, families and communities, so I am delighted to support the launch of the Community Alcohol Detox + project (CAD+) as part of the PEACEPLUS programme.

 I am very pleased that the project will provide access to community detox and wraparound treatment and support to 1,000 clients and families/carers in six cross-border communities and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this project will have.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA said: “The Community Alcohol Detox+ project aligns with a key aim of my Department which is to help reduce the harms to individuals, families and communities caused by substance use.  It aims to do so by building on existing collaborative working in this area which will see project partners across both jurisdictions jointly develop creative solutions and enhance community capacity to support 1,000 people with alcohol-related harm to detox safely.   Project participants will also benefit from new wraparound services to support them and their families and carers in recovery.  Through this welcome investment in our border regions, and the provision of holistic care, the project seeks to ensure equal access to healthcare for those who are particularly vulnerable while continuing to contribute to peace and prosperity in the wider community.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “CAD+ will meet a key PEACEPLUS target by addressing the socioeconomic issues that continue to undermine the health and well-being of our citizens in Northern Ireland and border counties of Ireland.

This project represents the beginning of a shared commitment, across borders, across disciplines, and across communities, to support people impacted by alcohol dependence, and also their families and carers, and I wish it every success.”

Welcoming this significant funding award, Pat Healy, HSE National Director and Director General of the CAWT Partnership said: “The CAWT partner organisations are committed to partnership working and innovating cross border services and projects, which improves the health and well-being of citizens. Our Community Alcohol Detox + Project will augment existing addiction services in the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas and in the HSE border counties. This significant PEACEPLUS investment will ultimately help to reduce inpatient detox numbers and alcohol-related hospital admissions.”

He added: “We are grateful to the Special EU Programmes Body and both Departments of Health for this PEACEPLUS funding, and for their support and trust in the CAWT Partnership to deliver for citizens living in border counties.”

CAWT’s Deputy Director General, Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency commented: “We welcome this significant additional PEACEPLUS investment to reinforce and strengthen community-based alcohol detox services in the CAWT border region. The Community Alcohol Detox + Project, will enable us to make considerable progress in the provision of alcohol detox services and complementary community-based supports, thus improving the health and well-being of our citizens, and their families and communities.”