Christmas can be a very distressing time for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues.
That's according to Sarah Cassidy, manager of Ais Eiri, a network of residential centres in the south east for those suffering with addiction.
Ais Eiri offer both adult and adolescent programmes and Cassidy says the demand for their services has gone through the roof during the pandemic.
Speaking to Beat, she says the period of time can be difficult for people in recovery;
"Obviously Christmas adds additional pressures and then there's the family piece for those struggling with addiction. It can really accelerate the hardships at home and the need for treatment can become more evident so it is a really difficult time for people.
People panicking how will they actually cope, how will they get through Christmas and how will they protect their children so it really is so distressing for them."
Cassidy says there are different trends in each age group. Younger cohorts are now struggling mostly with addictions to marijuana, Benzodiazepine and cocaine, while more adults require treatment around alcoholism.
For these reasons, she says their services are vital;
"Ais Linn is the only adolescent addiction treatment centre residentially in Ireland at this time and the capacity is 16 and they'll stay 6-9 weeks so you can imagine that in the country the demand is a hell of a lot bigger than we're able to manage.
The demand for treatment has gone through the roof and the pandemic has definitely contributed to that."
