Year 6 of the Drug and Alcohol Trends Monitoring System (DATMS) published

The Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Taskforce have launched the 6th Annual Drug and Alcohol Trends Monitoring System (DATMS).

The DATMS provides the local Taskforce with an evidence base for drug use patterns and issues of concern in Dublin 15 and this data is used to inform service provision. To monitor and respond to the changing needs of the local community the DATMS is completed annually.

The 6th DATMS involves 17 local participants and is a qualitative study exploring the experience of people attending local services, and the impact of drug and alcohol use on the individual and their families. The impact of Covid-19 on participation and implementation of local community services was explored in this years report.

Key findings from the new report include the following:

Challenges and difficulties identified locally: People are having difficulty dealing with past and present trauma and are looking for courses of action that do not further traumatise them and their families and friends. The report highlights how the support and guidance of trained professionals, using tried and tested techniques, can greatly facilitate people to equip themselves with the necessary tools to move forward in their lives in a more positive and constructive way.
The impact of COVID -19 on service delivery: In 2020 and 2021, the implementation of Covid-19 restrictions led to fluctuations in demand for services in this local community. The implementation of Covid-19 health and safety policies meant that services had to adapt and make changes to service delivery, with some services changing from face-to-face to online or phone contact.
Online engagment difficult for some groups: Challenges associated with online and phone contact included a lack of privacy and technology to engage with services, and a reduction in client engagement. The importance of face-to-face meetings for the development of interpersonal relationships between clients and service providers was highlighted. In response to the impact of the pandemic and the needs of the client, some programmes could not be operated, and others were developed.
The cyclical nature of addiction and recovery: Is impacting on local individuals and families.
Drug litter: In Year 2, 5 and 6 drug-related litter was identified across a large geographical spread throughout Dublin 15, identifying drug and alcohol use is a community wide issue crossing all socio-economic boundaries