Dublin drug treatment centre pilots scheme for rural clients

One of the main rehabilitation centres for adolescent drug users in Dublin is piloting a new scheme offering one-off assessments to young people with similar issues in other parts of the country.

Dr Gerry McCarney, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist of the SASSY (Substance Abuse Services Specific to Youth) project in north inner city Dublin, said the scheme might help drug-abusing teenagers in the absence of a nationwide service.

SASSY caters for the northside and Dublin’s north county, but Dr McCarney said it had been receiving a small number of case files from around the country, in an effort to provide some guidance for the young persons involved.

He said Ireland did not have a national addiction service for young people.

Some plans are in place for such a framework to be put in place but, until one is in place, Dr McCarney said SASSY hoped to be in a position to receive a greater number of client files, in future, from outside its designated area. He said it would help to provide initial advice for people before treatment in their own area. “We are piloting a project where we might be able to review the notes and assess the young person and send advice for treatment,” he said.

That treatment would be specific to the services available in that area, such as those offered by ACTS (Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service) teams.

“If we have the resources we would like to be able to operate it to some degree,” Dr McCarney said.

The pilot scheme extends to the possibility of a one-off assessment appointment with the young person, depending on the circumstances and the resources available.

Waiting times for clients referred to the SASSY team have reduced in recent years.

Four years ago a young person referred to the service might have expected waiting times of up to two months, but most clients are now seen within three weeks of referral.