Young person dies every fortnight of drug overdose

The networking organisation that oversees primary healthcare services for the homeless has said it is aware of a fatal drug overdose, usually involving a young client, every fortnight.

Safetynet Primary Care Network for Homeless Health Services (Safetynet) was established in 2007 and while it does not provide services directly, it ensures that nurses, doctors and voluntary agencies offer primary healthcare to homeless people in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Founder Dr Austin Carroll said the explosion in the number of people accessing homeless services — particularly in Dublin — was “worse than I’ve seen in a long time”.

However, he said the HSE had done “a good job” in increasing access to primary healthcare services, despite the increased pressure on the system.

But he said the rate of drug-related deaths among those using homeless services was of concern.

“Every two weeks we see a young death, often heroin related, but often other [drug-related] causes,” Dr O’Carroll said. “We have this idea that homelessness is a societal fault, and that drug use is an individual fault.

“There has been more pressure on the system but I have to say HSE has done a good job in allowing people to access the services. If you are going to criticise anyone it’s those creating the conditions that created the homelessness.

“We have people extremely sick on the streets. I now have people off methadone and drugs but still sleeping on the street and I am praying they will not slip back because of a lack of accommodation.”

Dr O’Carroll said Safetynet was working with the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, on the possibility of an intermediate care system, which he said would cater for those too sick to be on the streets but not sick enough for hospital or who won’t go to hospital.

He said such a facility would allow continued access to healthcare and a place to go before they access a better form of accommodation, and that similar systems work in other European countries.

Dr O’Carroll said the health of those using homeless services still remained very poor and that the number of people attending clinics had grown in the past six months from 12 to 15 a day to up to 50.

“There has been an explosion in the homeless population,” he said.

“Yes, the increased rent and financial problems have contributed, but it is more complex than that. The vast majority [of homeless people] come from poverty, most of the recession has been felt by those in poverty, you have decreasing social benefits, parents start rowing, families break down, kids turn to drugs and alcohol. It is not simply a rent issue.

“We need to protect those on welfare and in poverty as they are bearing the blunt of it.”

www.primarycaresafetynet.ie