Drug and alcohol support group for under-18s launched

The service was launched yesterday.

A new support service for under-18s concerned with the drug or alcohol use has been launched.

Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy Frank Feighan launched the ‘Monaghan and Cavan Youth Substance Support’ (MaCYSS) group on a visit to the region yesterday.

The service, which is the first of its kind in the region, will work with young people between 12 and 18 and their families.

Patricia Garland, HSE Manager for Social Inclusion said “adolescence is a crucial time of intense learning, both in terms of formal education and informally from family and peers. We are delighted to be funding this initiative with the Minister’s Department”.

Minister Feighan also launched a recently published survey report carried out by the MaCYSS development worker, which highlights the need for a service of this type in Cavan and Monaghan.

230 people aged 15 years and older took part in the survey.