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News Archive 2003
Dealing With Homelessness
Campaign Launch
23rd November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
At the launch of the Annual Report (see below) Mr. Geoghegan announced the launch of Merchants Quay Ireland new "Dealing with Homeless" Awareness Campaign which will run from November 24th - 28th 2003. It will reach the public daily using a multimedia approach including direct mail, radio, internet and other media. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the problems and risks associated with homelessness in Ireland and to showcase the solutions that work.
Click here for the daily press releases throughout this campaign
Annual Review 2002
21st November 2003
PRESS RELEASE
Merchant's Quay Ireland Annual Report Launched by His Grace Dr. Diarmuid Martin, Co-Adjudator Archbishop for Dublin, on Friday, November 21st at 10.15pm in Merchants Quay.
The Merchants Quay Ireland Annual Report for 2002 was released today. The report shows that the numbers of drug users attending their Health Promotion Unit over the year increased by 9% to 3,842 with 678 new drug users attending over the course of the year. The numbers using our homeless services was more than 1,600.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Tony Geoghegan, the Director of Merchants Quay Ireland said "we are greatly concerned by the increased numbers of homeless people and drug users we are seeing. There is increased public concern at the high visibility of drug use and homelessness on Dublins streets and it is a clear indication of a failure of Government policy to meet the needs of the most marginalised".
"The National strategies on homelessness and drugs have had a positive impact for some - it has been easier to rehouse homeless families, than single people. It has been easier to find accommodation for homeless people who don't have problems with drugs or alcohol than those who do. It has been easier to get drug treatment for settled drug users than for homeless drug users. In the hierarchy of poverty those with the greatest needs are being left behind - we are calling on Government to focus on targetting the limited resources available to develop innovative services that will meet the needs of homeless drug users and long term single homelessness.".
"If we are serious about addressing the housing needs of homeless drug users it means that as a society we need to accept problem drug users living in our midst just as we accept problem alcohol users living in our communities. Such acceptance is a first step in facilitating change and helping those with such problems to seek the treatment and support they need"
Mr. Geoghegan went on to announce the launch of Merchants Quay Ireland new "Dealing with Homeless" Awareness Campaign which will run from November 24th - 28th 2003. It will reach the public daily using a multimedia approach including direct mail, radio, internet and other media. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the problems and risks associated with homelessness in Ireland and to showcase the solutions that work.
Merchants Quay Ireland is a leading Irish charity working with homeless persons and drug users. The organisation provides services ranging from open access crisis intervention and health promotion services, to day support programmes, educational programmes, vocational training and settlement support services.
Dealing With Drugs
Campaign Launch
11th April 2003
PRESS RELEASE
Click here for the daily press releases
throughout this campaign
New figures from Merchants Quay Ireland show that over 10,000 heroin users have come to them for help since 1997
New figures from Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) released today have revealed that more than 10,000 heroin users have come to the organisation for help since 1997. This figure, which represents 1 in every 100 people in Dublin is contained in information released by MQI as part of their Dealing With Drugs campaign, which was launched today. The national awareness campaign, which coincides with a major fundraising drive by the organisation, is the first of its kind in Ireland. The campaign aims to highlight the damage and dangers associated with problem drug use, to showcase the solutions that work. and to encourage government, business and the wider community to redouble their efforts in dealing with the drugs problem.
A nationwide survey on Drug related attitudes and beliefs in Ireland carried out by the HRB in 2000 indicated that attitudes towards drug addicts were negative and unsympathetic and were characterised by fear and a desire to avoid such individuals. The "Dealing with Drugs" Campaign seeks to address such attitudes by providing accurate information on the known risks associated with heroin use, by showing that drug problems often develop in response to emotional distress and by demonstrating that treatment works but that positive attitudes to drug users are essential to their social integration and to their willingness to avail of treatment.
The campaign will use an extensive multimedia approach including billboards, posters, direct mail, radio, television, website and other media and will run for two weeks from April 11th until April 24th.
According to Tony Geoghegan, Director of MQI, "Problem drug use not only affects individual drug users but also blights families, relationships, friendships and communities. In response to these startling figures MQI today launched Dealing with Drugs campaign. The aim of the campaign is threefold. It will seek to raise public awareness of the problems and risks associated with heroin use in Ireland, to highlight the solutions that work and to challenge the negative stereotyping of drug users as both inaccurate and unhelpful."
Some of the facts highlighted during the Dealing with Drugs campaign include:
- There are at least 15,000 heroin users in Ireland.
- Ireland has one of the highest levels of drug related deaths in Europe rising from 7 in 1990 to 90 in 1999.
- Needle exchange programmes have proven to be highly effective as a Public Health Initiative reducing some of the potential risks associated with drug use including HIV and Hepatitis C.
- There is only one full-time needle exchange service in Ireland. There are no evening or weekend needle exchanges facilities.
- Residential drug treatment has been shown to be the best way of helping drug users give up drugs for good.
- There are less then 200 residential detoxification beds.
- Since 1996 the number of methadone treatment places has increased from 1,800 to 6,000. Methadone reduces risk of death from overdose or infection, its use is associated with reductions in problems such as crime homelessness and unemployment.
- More drug users are currently outside of treatment than are on treatment programmes of one type or another.
- The link between poverty, social exclusion and drug use has been recognised both in Ireland and abroad.
- The Dealing with Drugs campaign aims to turn this situation around by encouraging Government, business and the wider community to invest in the solutions that work.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Tony Geoghegan said, "This is the first ever campaign of this type in Ireland and I am hopeful that it will create an awareness especially among young people of the realities and the great risks associated with heroin use. But this campaign also has a positive focus. Many people think this is a problem with no solution. That is not true. Our experience at Merchants Quay Ireland is that drug treatment works, and that investment in drug treatment will pay big dividends for all affected by this problem.
"In addition this campaign challenges the negative stereotypes of drug users that are common currency. Such stereotypes make it harder for communities to accept services in their midst, for drug users to feel confident enough to engage in treatment and for families of drug users to cope with the stigma associated with drug problems".
The campaign will begin with the launch of Stirring Stories, an art exhibition showcasing a sample of work by clients of Merchants Quay Ireland over the past 10 years. The exhibition will be opened by singer songwriter Mary Coughlan and Cllr. Dermot Lacey, Lord Mayor of Dublin on Friday, 11 April, at a reception in Dublin Civic Offices, Wood Quay, beginning at 5.30pm. The exhibition will run for one week until April 17th.
The Stirring Stories exhibition will include paintings, drawings, photographs, stained glass works, mirror stencilling, glass frostings, wood carvings and mosaics. A movie In the Can, made by members of the Merchants Quay 'Oasis Programme' and produced in conjunction with the Irish Film Centre will be screened during the exhibition. Breathe, a collection of poetry and prose from the residents at St. Francis Farm (a 12 month residential rehabilitation programme) will also be on display.
Merchants Quay Ireland is a leading Irish charity working with homeless persons and drug users. The organisation provides services ranging from open access crisis intervention and health promotion services, to day support programmes, educational programmes, vocational training and settlement support services.
Stirring Stories
7th April 2003
PRESS RELEASE
An Art Exhibition showcasing work by Clients of Merchants Quay Ireland
DUBLIN CIVIC OFFICES, Wood Quay, Dublin 2
from Monday 14th April - Friday 18th April
10am - 5pm: Admission Free
Merchants Quay Ireland are pleased to announce Stirring Stories, an art exhibition showcasing work by their clients over the past 10 years. The exhibition will be opened by singer songwriter Mary Coughlan on Friday, 11 April, at a reception in Dublin Civic Offices, Wood Quay, beginning at 5.30pm.
The Stirring Stories exhibition will include paintings, drawings, photographs, stained glass works, mirror stencilling, glass frostings, wood carvings and mosaics. A movie In the Can, made by members of the Merchants Quay 'Oasis Programme' and produced in conjunction with the Irish Film Centre will be screened during the exhibition. Breathe, a collection of poetry and prose from the residents at St. Francis Farm (a 12 month residential rehabilitation programme) will also be on display.
Stirring Stories is a visual history of all the work that has been produced through the many and varied arts programmes run by Merchants Quay Ireland. Through art, clients have addressed very difficult personal issues. For many art provides an enriching experience and allows a temporary respite from the treadmill of addiction and homelessness. Stirring Stories is a celebration of the lives or ordinary people who have shared their experience of addiction and homelessness, and also shared their experience of recovery.
Stirring Stories is also launching Merchants Quay's DEALING WITH DRUGS campaign. This campaign, which will run in the national media over two weeks, aims to highlight the damage and dangers associated with problem drug use, and importantly to showcase the solutions that work.
Merchants Quay Ireland, a community of hospitality, hope and justice, is a leading Irish charity providing a wide range of services to people who are homeless, use drugs, their families and the wider community. On a daily basis, close to 300 people avail of the Open Access Drugs Services, and also, up to 300 people avail of the services provided by F?ilti?, a Homeless Resource Centre (the only service of its type operating seven days of the week). Almost 5,000 people availed of the services offered last year. These range from open access, crisis intervention and health promotion services, to day support programmes, educational programmes, vocational training and settlement support services.
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