THE NUMBER of women accessing one addiction treatment centre in Limerick City grew by 26 per cent last year, new figures show.
Figures provided by the Coolmine Therapeutic Community show a 26 per cent increase in the number of women accessing addiction services at its Mahon House facility.
263 women accessed supports from Coolmine in 2023, compared to 194 the previous year.
Alcohol addiction accounted for the largest number of women presenting to Coolmine in the Mid West, at 41 per cent.
22 per cent of cases, meanwhile, were for cocaine-related addiction, while 21 per cent concerned heroin addiction.
Mahon House offers a range of services to those in addiction, including assessments for residential treatment, day programmes, case management, counselling, and mental health interventions.
Mahon House also hosts positive social activities, which aim to promote positive social interactions in supporting mental and physical health during the recovery process.
Coolmine’s other facility in Limerick, Westbourne House, supports mothers and their children through the recovery process.
Westbourne House supported 44 women in 2023, as well as 20 children, and operated at full capacity throughout the year.
Treatment at Westbourne House consists of a five-month residential stay, followed by six-months of aftercare, with full-time childcare onsite for children under the age of five, without separating mothers from their children
Coolmine Mid West Manager David McPhillips said that the 2023 figures show that help is out there for people going through addiction, especially women and mothers.
“Coolmine recognises the challenge faced by mothers in addiction recovery and is committed to addressing this challenge by providing childcare to mothers accessing our services, allowing the women affected to work towards recovery with the peace of mind that their children are looked after close by,” he said.
“Support for those facing addiction is there, support that can meet the unique needs of the individual on their journey to recovery. I encourage anyone facing addiction to seek out Coolmine’s services.”
