Free training for addiction workers as study highlights neurodivergence rates

The programme was informed by the experiences of neurodivergent people who have use drug and alcohol services. Stock picture

A new online training service has been set up for frontline addiction workers in the wake of research showing that around a fifth of people accessing drug and alcohol services internationally are neurodivergent.

The free initiative is the brainchild of Trinity College Dublin School of Nursing and Midwifery and Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, a national umbrella body of community drug projects.

The substance use and neurodiversity course, described as the first of its type in Ireland, was developed in collaboration with national and international experts and co-produced with community drugs projects.

The programme was informed by the experiences of neurodivergent people who have use drug and alcohol services.

Professor Catherine Comiskey, who led the Trinity team alongside assistant professor Philip James, said the course reflects both the urgency of the need and a commitment to human rights in healthcare.

She said: “Dissemination of best practice is urgently required if healthcare practitioners and related services are to uphold human rights-based approaches for both people who use services and people who provide them.” 

Research conducted by her team, which examined evidence from 32 countries between 1997 and 2024, revealed that the overall estimate of the prevalence of ADHD within the population of people using drugs and alcohol was 21%.

When comparing rates of prevalence across substances, the data showed that over one third of benzodiazepine users display ADHD symptoms, she said.

“Our research also involved a study of qualitive interviews with service providers and we found that the majority of them did not have any formal education or training in neurodiversity. In fact, managing the needs of neurodiverse service users has been learned ‘on the job’ using a trial-and-error approach,” Prof Comiskey said.

Gap 'long felt' in communities

Citywide chair Tony Geoghegan said the course fills a gap that has been “long felt” in communities across Ireland.

“We know from our network of community drugs projects that staff have been doing their best without the tools they need,” he said. 

“Neurodivergent people deserve services that understand them. This course gives workers the knowledge and confidence to make that a reality.”

ADHD Ireland chief executive Ken Kilbride said: “We have seen the overindexing of ADHD and addiction, and we know the harms it can cause. This will be an invaluable tool for those looking to deliver support to neurodivergent people living with addiction.”

Senator Lynn Ruane, an advocate for drug reform, said the findings reflected what she had seen first-hand and called for future training to be funded by the Government.

“The journeys to diagnosis, treatment, and understanding were tortuous for people, their families, and for services,” she said. 

“It is essential that the recommendations on the need for a neurodiverse, informed approach and the subsequent training are supported and funded within the new national drug strategy.” 

Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism are defined by the World Health Organization as cognitive and behavioural conditions arising during childhood development.

The course can be accessed here.