Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I can only talk about my own experience. I worked in Dóchas and ran some programmes with the organisation with which I work. I found it an amazing experience. I worked with prisoners who were incredible. They really wanted to recover. It is very difficult for prison officers to work in the chaos of addiction. We have worked with family members who have a loved one with an alcohol, drug or gambling problem and the chaos for them is soul destroying. People do not know how to cope. There are significant mental health issues for those suffering from an addiction and their family members. I saw this in the Irish Prison Service in general with the staff, who are under significant pressure in working with those who are in the chaos of addiction. The problems in Dóchas were not related to heroin alone, there was a significant issue with prescription medications which were probably more of an issue. A lot of the women in prison were there for crimes related to alcohol. They also had alcohol issues. Is there a programme for prison officers to give them information on the impact of addiction and how they can deal with it? I have no doubt that there is burnout among staff. If they burn out, they will become angry and frustrated and get fed up. Personal mental health issues also arise. Are there supports in place for staff to deal with the chaos of addiction?