CODA workers, (L-r) Suzanne Quinn, training project worker, Alison Baxter, project support and Paula McQuade, community support worker and Jim Moore, training co-ordinator
Drugs group's funding crisis 'could cost lives'
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
East Belfast's only dedicated drugs awareness community project has warned a
funding crisis could cost people's lives.
The stark warning came from workers at Community Drug Awareness (CODA)
project, which, due to a cash shortage, will be forced to close its doors
after 10 years of helping those battling drug addiction.
Cash-strapped CODA has been existing for the past year on short-term funding
from the Department of Social Development administered by the Belfast
Regeneration Office. However, the New Year now looks bleak for the area's
only project of its kind, as it faces being forced to be wound up in March
when money runs out.
If CODA has to shut-up shop it will be a double body blow for the people of
the area, said training co-ordinator Jim Moore, as the first months of the
New Year see a dramatic increase in the number of people coming through
their doors needing help with their addiction.
“After Christmas and into the New Year there's an upsurge in the alcohol and
drugs such as cocaine. January is busy,” he said.
“People have stretched themselves spending over Christmas but still have a
habit to feed. There is more pressure put on family. Our hands our tied in
the amount of long-term help and support if we are closing.
“Short-term funding restricts what we can do, the people we can train, the
level will can train and help them get qualifications to. There are more and
more people coming through our doors looking help.
“We had four males all under 25 all with drugs problem asking for support,
they know where else to go. One young fella had tried to commit suicide
three times and he needed to get an appointment to see a counsellor that
day.
“Where are people from this area going to go if we are not here? (Health
Minister) Michael McGimpsey is going to have to fund something for this area
to deal with the growing drug and drug-related suicide problem.”
Alison Baxter, project support worker, added: “Whoever makes these funding
decisions are really playing with people's lives. Is it going to take
someone dying from drugs or taking their own life over drugs for the
politicians to sit-up and take notice?”
Owen O'Neill, senior co-ordinator for the Eastern Health and Social Service
Board's drug and alcohol co-ordinating team, confirmed it did not fund any
dedicated community drug project located in the east of the city.
“There is no base in south and east Belfast,” he said.
However, he said the delivery of drugs awareness programmes and training to
the people of east Belfast is covered by a consortium of three drugs
awareness groups, made-up of groups from Lisburn, west and north Belfast.
He said: “The pot is completely empty at the minute. We fund the community
support worker (at CODA) to support the local communities in south and east
to tackle drug and alcohol issues.
“The courses (to be delivered to the community) we fund via the consortium
and will be delivered to those who need them the most but there's not enough
money to fund local projects.”
