80% of Kerry community addiction treatment programme participants stayed abstinent from drink and drugs

HSE South West general manager of social inclusion David Lane holding a copy of 'Recover without Walls' Participant described the group space in treatment as “safe, non-judgmental, and manageable”. Picture: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus

Eight out of 10 people who stuck with a community addiction treatment programme in Kerry for a year were off alcohol and drugs, according to an evaluation report.

Participants of the Adult Recovery Group (ARG), at the Brandon House Treatment Centre in Tralee, said the HSE programme being located in the community where they lived allowed recovery to be “integrated into daily life”.