John Curran
Question:334. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the status of the guidelines and strategic statement on hidden harm. [52697/18]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2018
Questions (334)
Written answers
The Government's strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025.
The strategy acknowledges that substance misuse affects not only those who have developed a drug problem, but also their families and communities. Children of parents who misuse substances are more likely to be at a higher risk of physical, psychological and emotional harm.
Action 1.3.9 of the strategy is to mitigate the risk and reduce the impact of parental substance misuse on babies and young children. The HSE and Tusla Child and Family Agency are the lead agencies in delivering this action.
The HSE and Tusla Child and Family Agency have established the national hidden harm project to inform service planning and improve services for children living with and impacted by parental problem alcohol and other drug use. This project has resulted in a Strategic Statement: ‘Seeing Through Hidden Harm to Brighter Futures’ and a ‘Hidden Harm Practice Guide’
I and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone TD, will launch both documents in January 2019.