A community-health partnership response to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Travellers and Roma in Ireland.

Irish Travellers and Roma are two ethnic minorities experiencing high levels of health inequities. These communities are at greater risk of developing COVID-19 and of suffering more severe symptoms due to poor living environments and higher rates of comorbidities. This study explores the strategies adopted by community-health partnerships and NGOs to minimise the potential widening of Travellers' and Roma's health inequities during the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed to provide a detailed account of three different community and partnership-led responses. Data were gathered from multiple sources and through first-hand participation in the COVID-19 responses. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. This study found that the main pandemic mitigation interventions implemented were public health measures, culturally sensitive communications, lobbying for policy change and economic and social support. These interventions, supported by the health promotion strategies of partnership, advocacy and empowerment, have proven to be extremely important to reduce potential inequities in exposure to the virus and in access to healthcare. The findings suggest that community-health partnerships between minority groups' organizations and healthcare professionals represent a viable approach to mitigate the disproportionate effects of a pandemic on Travellers and Roma.

Trends in addiction treatment in Irish prisons using national surveillance data, 2009-2014.

PURPOSE: Many studies show that incarcerated populations have higher rates of problem drug use than the general population. The purpose of this paper is to analyse trends in addiction treatment demand in prisons in Ireland from 2009 to 2014 using available national surveillance data in order to identify any implications for practice and policy. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: National surveillance data on treatment episodes for problem drug and alcohol use from 2009 to 2014, collected annually by the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS), were analysed. FINDINGS: In total, 6 per cent of all treatment episodes recorded by the NDTRS between 2009 and 2014 were from prison services. The number of prison service treatment episodes increased from 964 in 2009 to 1,063 in 2014. Opiates were the main reason for treatment, followed by alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. The majority (94-98 per cent) of treatment episodes involved males (median age of 29 years) and low educational attainment, with 79.5-85.1 per cent leaving school before completion of second level. The percentage of treatment episodes with a history of ever injecting drugs increased from 20.9 per cent in 2009 to 31.0 per cent in 2014. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study can help policy development and service planning in addiction treatment in prison as it provides an insight into the potential needs of incarcerated populations. It also provides a baseline from which to measure any changes in provision of treatment in prison over time. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This is the first study to analyse treatment episodes in prison using routine surveillance data in Ireland. Analysis of these data can provide useful information, not currently available elsewhere.