'Vital' NI addiction support service to close

Over the past 23 years, Breakthru has supported thousands in crisis and some of the most vulnerable in the community through services for drug, alcohol, gambling and mental health issues.

But today, the charity announced the service will be ending on Friday, due to a lack of funding.

Children with drug or alcohol addicted parents are among thousands who could now be left without support.

With recent figures highlighting an increase in drug deaths - this could not have come at a worse time.

Breakthru was founded in 1996 and has established itself as a leading organization in the field of substance misuse in Northern Ireland.

Manager Bernadette McHugh said they launched a campaign back in January to save the charity, but it wasn't enough.

She said :"It started back in 2015 when we lost funding from the Public Health Agency, ever since then it's created a snowball effect and we can't keep it up any longer.

"Unfortunately the way some funding works is that it provides funds for the project that's happening, but not for the overheads of the organisation - and that's where the shortfall came in."

Bernadette, in an emotional interview, says the service will create a huge gap in the area for those most vulnerable.

"This charity has helped thousands of people, and that's no exaggeration," she said.

"Last year through our schools programme we provided information and support to almost 2,000 children and young people and around 1,000 people benefited from our range of services including counselling and support groups.

"The loss of local provision is going to have a huge impact. There isn't going to be the same availability. Breakthru was here on peoples doorsteps, people could just drop in whenever they needed. Now they won't have that support."

Anyone in need of support should contact their GP, or their Drug and Alcohol Coordination Teams:

Southern 028 9043 5810

Northern 028 9043 5810

Western 0800 254 5123

Or

Lifeline 0808 808 8000

Samaritans 116 12