Online Map Highlights Services For Drug-Users & Families
Anti-drug activists today launched an online map of services for drug-users and their families in Dublin in an attempt to highlight that help is at hand.
The website acts as a one-stop shop for information on needle exchange, rehabilitation and homeless support providers.
Tallaght Drugs Taskforce set up the internet resource after finding that many drug-users were unaware of the services that are available.
Grace Hill, of the taskforce, said: “There are a huge range of supports and services available in the Tallaght area that could act as an important intervention to someone with a drugs problem.
“However, the problem we have noticed is that most drug-users and their families don’t know these services exist.”
The map has been initially launched on the web to target younger people but the taskforce hopes to roll-out other formats.
“The logic of this is that most young people – who are the greatest at-risk group – tend to access most of their information online,” said Ms Hill.
“However, it is our intention to look at other publication formats so that parents, GPs and Gardaí will also become more aware of the range of services out there to help someone with an addiction problem.”
The map, www.tallaghtdtf.ie, details telephone contact numbers, addresses, web-reference and opening times for services.
“Most people who have a drugs problem would like some help or support, but seldom know who exactly to turn to,” added Ms Hill.
“The purpose of our site is to list all of the options available to help prevent misuse, to help someone find a way out of misuse, as well as support services – such as health services or housing services – that can help people find a solution to a problem which has aggravated their addiction.”
Aidan Power, RTE TV presenter, who helped launch the new website, said better access to information about services could reduce the number of people abusing drugs.
“Very often, when family and friends discover that someone close to them has a drugs problem, they want to help, but simply do not know who or where to turn to,” he said.
“This map of services acts as a one-stop information point which they can consult without judgment.”
