The pandemic is being highlighted as the possible cause of a significant rise in the number of people seeking help for addiction issues last year in the Shannonside region.
Merchant's Quay Ireland, which runs local support services, including a drop-in centre in Athlone, has revealed that 1,298 people accessed MQI's Midlands Service last year up from 787 in 2019.
The homelessness and addiction support charity remained open to assist people all throughout 2020 and it's suggested that lockdowns played a key role in more people coming forward for help.
The head of drugs, health and homeless at MQI is Sanjay Gulati.
He says they have heard of several instances of people who had successfully hidden their addictions from their family- only for lockdowns and changed circumstances forcing the issue out in the open :
You can hear the full interview here:
