Pictured at the launch of the HSE report at The Rose Hotel this week were Barry Corkery senior addiction counsellor at the HSE , David Lane, General Manager, HSE South West Social Inclusion and Dr Rebekah Brennan HSE Social Inclusion Southwest. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTDA NEW evaluation by HSE South West Addiction Services shows that a community-based addiction recovery programme in Tralee is delivering strong outcomes, with high rates of abstinence and clear improvements in people’s health and quality of life.
The report, launched at The Rose Hotel, Tralee is called “Recovery Without Walls” and evaluates the Adult Recovery Group (ARG) at Brandon House Treatment Centre.
It is a structured programme that supports people to stop using drugs and alcohol while continuing to live at home and stay connected to their families and communities.
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The evaluation found that 79% of participants were abstinent from both alcohol and drugs after 12 months and 97% were abstinent from drugs at follow-up.
It reported people moved from high-risk substance use to low-risk use or full abstinence over the course of the programme.
Pictured at the launch of the HSE report at The Rose Hotel this week were Louise Shanahan and Caitriona Gogging from UHK Tralee. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD Participants also reported clear improvements in mental and physical health, family relationships, work, training and education and social life and overall wellbeing.
Speaking at the launch today in Rose Hotel, Tralee, Barry Corkery, Senior Counsellor, HSE South West Addiction Services said: “This evaluation shows that what we are doing here in Brandon House is very much aligned with that direction of travel: community-based, health-led, recovery-oriented care that is grounded in real outcomes for real people, families and communities. It also gives us clear pointers on where we need to improve, including how we better engage younger adults and women, and how we strengthen our follow-up and aftercare.”
The evaluation shows that recovery goes beyond stopping substance use. Participants built what is known as “recovery capital” – the personal and social supports needed to stay well.
Pictured at the launch of the HSE report at The Rose Hotel this week were were Barry Corkery senior addiction counsellor at the HSE , Ronan Doherty NOVAS , Daniel O’Shea Kerry ETB and Patrick Conway O’Connell HSE . Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD The report finds that the Adult Recovery Group at Brandon House is an effective community-based pathway to recovery, with strong potential to expand and be replicated in other areas.
David Lane, General Manager, HSE South West Social Inclusion said; “This evaluation shows that recovery can happen in the heart of our communities. The outcomes achieved by Brandon House show how people can access high-quality, structured treatment close to home, while staying connected to their families, work and communities.”
