Typical Clients and Trends 2007
When CARP started it hadn’t a system in place whereby its clients were moved to GPs when they stabilised. Hence the cohort remained fairly constant. Some would have moved to other geographical areas, some would have destabilised and ceased attending; some would have gone to prison, etc. Fortunately none of our clients died, but we did have a few close shaves. Some of those who did leave us did die. 2006 was a particularly bad year in which we buried four former clients – one alcohol poisoning, one cocaine clots, one in an accident and one through cancer.
Since 2000 the policy of moving stabilised clients on to GPs has been followed. Since clients don’t remain with us as they did to 2000 it is difficult to get a clear picture of their progress or lack of it. When they are moved to GPs they very often cease to interact with CARP. Some have asked to be transferred back to CARP by their GPs but it doesn’t happen often. A handful of people have transferred back to CARP since 2000. Since the advent of cocaine a number of ‘stable’ clients with GPs destabilised. This has had a knock on effect of destabilising the community.
A typical CARP client in 2007 is male (71% - down 4 percent since 2002); 31 years of age (increase of 2 years since 2002); left school at 15 without certification; 50% chance of being in employment/further education; 34% unemployed; 15% full time mothers; 30% heroin injectors (down from 50% in 2002); the greatest number are aged 27 (up 2 years on 2002); 64% live in their own homes and they have responsibility for 104 children – up thirty from 2002. One is homeless. Our oldest client is 54 and the youngest 20. There are no clients under 18 since it is Health Board policy that they be treated centrally – it has recently moved to Tallaght for people from Tallaght.
Statistics on Ages of Drug users --Please select a drug to view (Click on drop down button)
Male Statistics
In general the average male is one of 26 years of age.
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In 2002 most clients are self referrals and for many CARP is their first place of treatment – in the past more had been in treatment elsewhere before coming to CARP. In 2007 the Health Board (HSE) place people with CARP with CARP’s agreement.
As CARP developed so did the number of referrals. 71 in 1997, 91 in 1999 but they slowed down in the early 2000s as CARP’s numbers were capped by the Health Board at 75. People presenting for treatment were referred to the local Health Board in Tallaght and put on a waiting list. They had to wait for over 6 months. However, with the provision of a new Tallaght Central Clinic in early 2003 the waiting period for people has been brought down to one month. This still continues to be the case in 2007.
However, the slow down in the number of applications reflects the decrease in heroin use in the community. In 1995/6 there were about 12 teenagers in treatment with CARP. In 2007 the number from Killinarden in treatment U18 is one or two. This means that the average age for people in treatment is rising. A new trend is emerging in the past few months – people are presenting who moved onto heroin to come down off cocaine. This means there will be a whole new generation experiencing problem heroin use.
Age of First use of a drug
The tables below were compiled in and around 2000 and they give the age at which those in CARP first did the named drug. The general trend is nicotine at 11, alcohol at 12, solvents at 13, hash at 13, Tablets,LSD, Magic Mushrooms at 15, Speed and E at 16; Heroin and Methadone at 17 and cocaine at 18.
(here place the drop down menu with the corresponding charts for 2002 – remove the opiate chart and transfer to the next item. It will be on its own for the moment.)
People experiencing problem heroin use in a population of 8,000.
Number of people with problem heroin use in Killinarden in 2004. (The number with opiate problems in Killinarden in 2007 will be added later in the year for comparison purposes.) |
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