Addiction Treatment and Support in Ireland

State and voluntary services, helplines, support groups and rehabilitation — for people with an addiction and for their families.

1. Official State Support Services (HSE)

HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline
Confidential advice, information on detox and rehabilitation programmes. You can also call if you are worried about someone else.
Phone: 1800 459 459 (freephone), Monday to Friday 9:30am–5:30pm. Email: helpline@hse.ie
Information: drugs.ie · askaboutalcohol.ie
Your GP (Family Doctor)
First step — visit your GP for an initial assessment. Your GP can arrange medical detoxification, or refer you to an addiction centre or to a psychiatrist / psychologist.
Local Drug & Alcohol Task Forces (DATF)
Regional services in every county — treatment, counselling, social support. Find your nearest service at drugs.ie/services.
Mayo, Galway and Roscommon are served by the Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force (wrdatf.ie).

2. Self-Help & Mutual Aid Groups

Meetings available in person and online (Zoom). Free to attend and anonymous. AA and NA meetings in Mayo are on the map in section 3.

AA — Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 01 842 0700 (24/7)
Latvian and Russian-speaking AA groups available in Dublin and online (Zoom).
NA — Narcotics Anonymous
Information line: 01 672 8000
SMART Recovery Ireland
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach — an alternative to the 12-step model.

3. Support for Families and Loved Ones

If someone you love is struggling with addiction — you are also entitled to support.

Support for those living alongside someone with an addiction

When someone in a family uses addictive substances (alcohol, drugs), they are not the only one who suffers. Relatives often live with constant tension, shame and fear, hide what is happening from others and organise their whole life around the other person's addiction. This is known as codependency. Many people never talk about it, or do not even realise that they need help themselves. You do not have to wait until your relative stops: you can look for help now, and they do not need to know.

If your relative drinks — Al-Anon

Al-Anon is a support group for people whose lives are affected by someone else's drinking: partners, parents, children, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues. Al-Anon is not for the person who drinks, but for those who live alongside them. At meetings, members share their experience of coping with their feelings and the situation at home, and learn to look after themselves too.

Al-Anon is free and anonymous, and is not allied with any religion, organisation or institution. Meetings are for adults (18 and over); Alateen is for teenagers aged 12 to 17. Al-Anon Helpline in Ireland: 01 873 2699 (7 days a week).

If your relative uses drugs or alcohol — family support service in Mayo

The Mayo Drug & Alcohol Family Support Service (Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force) offers confidential support to family members affected by a loved one's drug or alcohol use: one-to-one support, information on substances and their effect on the family, support programmes (such as 5-Step and CRAFT) and online groups. The service is based in Ballinrobe (Tacú Family Resource Centre) and also provides outreach in Westport, Castlebar and Claremorris. Phone: 087 335 2831, wrdatf.ie.

HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline: 1800 459 459 (freephone, Monday to Friday 9.30am–5.30pm). You can also call if you are worried about someone else; you do not have to give your name.

AA, NA, Al-Anon and family support in County Mayo — map

In-person Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Al-Anon meetings in County Mayo, and the family support service in Ballinrobe. Tap a town to see the address, days and times. You can simply turn up to your first meeting; there is no need to register.

Tap a point on the map or a town name below to see the address and phone number.

Closed meetings (C) are for anyone who has, or thinks they may have, a drinking problem; open meetings (O) are for anyone interested, including family. Times can change: check alcoholicsanonymous.ie before you go (online meetings are listed there too) or call the AA helpline on 01 842 0700. NA: na-ireland.org, information line 01 672 8000. Al-Anon: al-anonuk.org.uk, helpline 01 873 2699. Data: alcoholicsanonymous.ie, na-ireland.org, al-anonuk.org.uk, wrdatf.ie (October 2026).

National support for families

Al-Anon and Alateen (Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire)
For family members and friends of people who drink. Alateen — for teenagers aged 12 to 17. Helpline in Ireland: 01 873 2699 (7 days a week).
National Family Support Network (NFSN)
National network for families affected by a loved one's drug or alcohol problem.
Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force — family support
Family support services in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon. Mayo service phone: 087 335 2831.

4. Specialist Rehabilitation Centres

Both publicly funded and private rehabilitation centres are available. State-funded places are accessed through HSE or a GP referral.

Rutland Centre
Private residential rehabilitation centre, Dublin. Comprehensive treatment programmes.
Aiseiri
Treatment centres in several Irish towns. State-funded and private places available.
Cuan Mhuire
Catholic-run rehabilitation centres — Athy, Bruree, Coolarne and others.
Coolmine
Community-based recovery — Dublin. Women's and family programmes available.

State-funded places: Ask your GP for a referral to an HSE-funded rehabilitation programme — you do not have to pay yourself.