There are calls for action to be taken to reopen addiction support groups in Dublin.
Minister of State, Frank Feighan has confirmed new restrictions have put a stop to in person meetings for groups such as alcoholics and narcotics anonymous.
Under the level 3 guidelines no organised indoor gatherings can take place in the capital until October 10th.
Addiction Counsellor Austin Prior says the importance of these services seems to have gotten lost.
"People can go in for funerals, weddings.... religious services, even though they're at limited numbers people can still attend those."
"There are halls that are big enough [for addiction services]."
"Unfortunately it seems to have gotten lost in the general conversation around whether pubs can re-open or not."
Update: It has been confirmed today that all drug & alcohol support groups in Dublin such as AA, NA or Smart Recovery are subject to the recently introduced Level 3 regulations relating to indoor events. No organised indoor gatherings can take place until October 10th. @AAOM_ie
— Frank Feighan T.D. (@FrankFeighan) September 19, 2020
Prior - Groups Were Coping With The Pandemic Well Until Now
Austin Prior says measures at meetings for contact tracing and social distancing systems was well dealt with before this.
He says, "they were managing the group meetings very well."
"They had somebody taking responsibility for signing people in, for getting names and phone numbers."
"Even that in itself presents a difficulty in an anonymous situation like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous but people were managing to roll with it and do it."
