Psych unit patients use illicit drugs, admit staff

Staff at an acute psychiatric unit in Ennis have confirmed that drug use among patients has been a problem but said no such unit was likely to be “immune” from the issue.

Denis Meehan, a branch officer for the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association, works at the acute unit at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Ennis and said he was aware some patients had lodged complaints with hospital management about drug taking.

However, he stressed that the problem had been more pronounced in the past and that staff at the unit were dealing with the issue as and when it arose. “The thing about acute psychiatric units is that there is always going to be an element of illicit drug use with the nature of mental health illness.”

He said the policy at the 38-bed unit — which is currently full and has been for much of the past year — was that anyone found to be taking drugs was discharged.

However, he said “that’s not as easy as that”, given the mental health difficulties of some patients.

He said only a few CCTV cameras were employed within the unit because of consideration for patient privacy. He also said gardaí had carried out searches in the past of patients’ rooms and lockers but could only do so with a warrant.

As for discharges, he said: “People have been discharged in the past but it would not be that common.”

Similarly, he said voluntary patients had the right to refuse requests for drug tests and “hard evidence” was required to link anybody with drug use.

“They [drugs] get into every prison in the country. I am not saying the unit is a prison but an acute unit is not going to be immune.”

Last weekend the Irish Examiner revealed the Mayo Garda Drugs Unit had visited the mental health unit at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar after complaints were made about cocaine and cannabis being brought in by the public.

This week, local councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he was “not surprised” at the claims.

Regarding the Ennis unit, Mr Meehan said: “We do our best to keep it to a minimum and deal with it when it arises.

“It is a problem, it is a problem for staff and for other patients. The management of it is more difficult than people would think.”

The Irish Examiner spoke with two people connected to the unit and both said they were aware of the availability of drugs such as cannabis on the ward, in addition to alcohol.

It was alleged that in one case nursing staff refused entry to one visitor due to a suspicion he was bringing drugs into the ward. It was also suggested a gazebo close to the unit was the centre of the drug taking.

Last night the HSE said: “Staff in the acute unit are aware that some illicit substances have been brought on to the ward from time to time. Patients and visitors are made aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

“When required, searches are conducted and the gardaí are informed.”