Substance Use

The Community and Health Department have worked with the appropriate statutory bodies such as the Health Service Executive (HSE), Drugs and Alcohol Taskforces (DATFs), Alcohol Forum and the Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Teams (DACTs) to update the GAAs Substance Use Policy and ensure Clubs and Counties are kept abreast of best practice in this area.

All clubs are strongly advised to adopt a Substance Use Policy. The Policy aims to discourage the use of drugs and tobacco and the misuse of alcohol through three key approaches:

· Prevent alcohol and other drug related problems from happening

· Educate members about relevant issues

· Respond appropriately should a problem arise

The Healthy Club Officer is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation and evaluation of this policy in conjunction with the Club Executive.

It is worthwhile launching your clubs Substance Use policy in collaboration with representatives from your regional DATFs & DACTs, An Gardaí Síochána or the PSNI.

Click HERE to view list for the Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces (DATFs) Websites

Click HERE to view list for the Drugs and Alcohol Coordination Teams (DACTs) Websites

Useful Resources

HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline

This confidential service has both a freephone Helpline (1800 459 459) and an email support service helpline@hse.ie Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30am and 5.30pm.

The HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline provides support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related to drug and alcohol use and/or HIV and sexual health.

Websites

www.askaboutalcohol.ie has information on alcohol and drugs.ie has information on drugs and their effects.

www.alcoholireland.ie This is the website of Alcohol Action Ireland. It is a useful source of information, statistics on alcohol consumption and alcohol policy in Ireland and information on Silent Voices which is aimed at offering support to children, young people and adults who are or who have grown up with parental alcohol misuse.

www.alcoholforum.org The Alcohol Forum is a registered charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol related harms in communities. It provides information on alcohol related brain injuries, impact of alcohol on families and provides support to communities in efforts to reduce alcohol relates harms.

www.drugs.ie Drug and Alcohol Information and Support for Teenagers, Parents and Carers. Advice and Support. Other languages: drugs.ie can be viewed in numerous languages reflecting the modern classroom, eg Polish, Chinese, Lithuanian, Russian, Italian.

www.spunout.ie Health topics for young people

www.reachout.com Irish youth mental health online

www.jigsaw.ie Practical information on youth mental health

https://nonameclub.ie Having fun in an alcohol free environment

https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mentalhealth-services/connecting-for-life/ Connecting for Life is Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide 2015-2020.

For further information on Substance Use and/or Reduce the Odds contact blanaid.careny@gaa.ie