Addiction treatment services

Addiction is when you cannot stop doing, taking or using something even when it can be harmful to you.

You can be addicted to many activities or substances including gambling, drugs, alcohol, and smoking.

You can find your local service for addiction treatments on this map.

Freephone the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 for confidential information and support.

Your Local Health Office can help you find addiction services in your area.

Your GP can also refer you to local addiction services where you will be assessed and can discuss your treatment options. Pharmacists can also refer you to appropriate services like addiction treatment and counselling centres.

Addiction treatment services are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Drug and Alcohol Services. Some services are provided by community and voluntary projects funded by the local or regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force.

Addiction treatment in the private health service

Private treatment programmes vary in their admission requirements. Contact the service provider directly for more information. If you need advice, your GP can discuss the options with you.

Find more below in ‘Further information and help for addiction’.

Your addiction can be treated in a

• Residential setting, where you stay overnight, or
• Non-residential setting, where you are treated in the community

The decision about where you get your treatment will depend on

• Your assessed needs
• A discussion with you about your own personal needs.

If you have mental health needs, you can access your local mental health services for additional support.

Depending on your treatment needs, you may be referred back to your GP for ongoing care.

Addiction counselling

Addiction counsellors can provide:

• An assessment
• Brief intervention
• Counselling
• Information
• Referral to treatment services

You can access counselling individually or through group counselling.

As well as addiction counselling, community care services may provide support.

If your relationships are affected by addiction these may be addressed in:

• Family therapy
• Couples therapy, or
• Support groups for other people who have been affected.

Detoxification

Detoxification is a medical support to stop you using drugs or alcohol. You may need medicine to help you with the physical withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or drugs.

Detoxification can be offered to you as an:

• Out-patient, at home under the supervision of a GP, or
• In-patient, staying in a hospital or medical centre depending on your assessed needs.

Self-detoxification may carry health risks. You should always get advice from a professional.

Detoxification does not help with the psychological issues related to addiction, so further support can be provided when you have completed detoxification.

You can talk to your GP about a suitable detoxification programme and treatment plan.

Residential programmes

If you are referred to a residential treatment centre, you will temporarily stay there where you cannot access alcohol or drugs. You stay overnight in a treatment centre as an in-patient. Residential programmes can last from 28 days to 12 months.

Programmes generally have a small number of participants. Talk to your GP or local addiction service about your options and appropriate referral to residential treatment.

Group meetings

You can find groups that provide support to people recovering from addiction. Groups are generally free of charge. Groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

There are also support groups for family members affected by problem alcohol or drug use.

If you cannot control your need to gamble despite the affect it has on your own life and the lives of your family, you may have a gambling addiction.

The treatment for addiction to gambling includes an initial assessment, a comprehensive assessment and individual counselling. Gambling addiction services may provide financial advice and onward referral to other services and supports, for example, Gamblers Anonymous.

You can find public and private services that provide support for problem gambling (pdf).

Self-help for gambling addiction 

You can find some tips to help your problem gambling on Gov.ie including:

• Limit online advertising of gambling on your social media
• Exclude yourself from some or all gambling companies for a certain time or indefinitely
• Set up a gambling block with your bank to stop you making gambling transactions on your bank account.

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022

When the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 is commenced further supports and protection to people with a gambling addiction will be available including:

• Restricting times and places where gambling can be advertised
• Banning children from gambling online and in person
• Prohibiting the use of credit cards and credit facilities for gambling
• Launching a National Gambling Exclusion Register
• Banning the use of inducements encouraging gambling

Read more about the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 and the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.

Non-residential or out-patient addiction services through the public health system (HSE) are free of charge.

There may be a charge for residential (in-patient or overnight) programmes. However, these charges are often on a sliding scale and your ability to cover the fees should not be a barrier to you accessing the service.

A medical card may cover stays in selected drug treatment centres. If you have health insurance, contact your insurer to find out if treatment costs are covered.

Private treatment services

Private treatment programmes are not free of charge and prices vary depending on the programme. These costs may be covered by your private health insurance. For more details on access to private treatment services, contact the service provider.

Drugs.ie and Askaboutalcohol.ie are HSE websites with information about drug and alcohol services. Each has a directory of services that you can search to find specific services in your local area.

The HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline provides confidential support, information and referral to services. Call Freephone 1800 459 459 or email helpline@hse.ie.

You can find information for parents and carers on drugs and alcohol.

You can find your local service for addiction on this map. You can search by:

• Age group
• Treatment type such as detox from heroin or alcohol
• Residential or community service
• Supports

Call the national helpline for problem gambling on 1800 936 725. You can find more on Gamblingcare.ie.

Freephone the Samaritans on 116 123 to talk about any type of addiction.