HSE ask national addiction services to promote EMCDDA survey on the Impact of COVID-19

National services are encouraged by the HSE to promote EMCDDA survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on patterns of drug use, harms and drug services

The survey findings will contribute to the emerging knowledge base on COVID-19 and Ireland’s response to it, potentially helping to protect the health of people who use drugs and improve drug services.

We are still learning of the impact COVID-19 is having on people who use drugs and on the Irish drug market.

We are aware of international and local concerns in relation to market changes and the impact this is having on the most vulnerable people such as those who use our services.

Having access to the EMCDDA findings during the COVID-19 pandemic can help inform our early harm reduction responses to reduce identified harms.

About the survey

The EMCDDA survey looks at the impact of COVID-19 on patterns of drugs use, harm and drug services. It is targeted at people aged over 18 who have used drugs, and structured with modules on:

• Socio-demographics
• COVID-19 status
• Drug using patterns (last 30 days, last year)
• Access to service
• Drug market activity (e.g. changes in the way illicit drugs have been obtained during COVID-19)
• The drugs being examined as part of this study are heroin, other opioids, crack, benzodiazepines, MDMA, cannabis, LSD, amphetamines, synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic stimulants.

The survey takes approx. 10 minutes to complete.

Promotion

We would greatly appreciate if services could take the time to promote this important survey with their client groups, share the below link or promote through afflicted social media channels and networks.

If you have questions in relation to this survey, please don’t hesitate to contact the National Social Inclusion Office or Joao Matias from the EMCDDA Joao.Matias@emcdda.europa.eu

Access the survey here

Download PDF here