Scientology drug rehab centre highlights lack of regulation in Ireland

Scientology drug rehab centre highlights lack of regulation in Ireland Photo: Tony Gavin

If you’ve been to LA, you’re bound to have met them – clean-shaven, young, wearing a neat suit or a business dress – the friendly face of the controversial entity that is the Church of Scientology. The organisation has had a presence in Ireland since 1957, but it’s only recently that they have attempted to exert themselves significantly.

A report in 2017 by The Irish Times revealed their efforts to create goodwill through gifting free resources to schools around the country. The material never appeared to be from the organisation at first, but closer reading made the connection apparent.

More recently, the organisation has made the news due to an ongoing case regarding a proposed drug rehabilitation centre in Ballivor, Co. Meath. The centre was set up by Narconon, an off-shoot of the organisation which has locations worldwide – Ballivor would be its first in Ireland.

Over the coming weeks, the Supreme Court will be adjudicating a case between An Bord Pleanála (ABP) and Narconon. In 2016, Narconon bought the land in Ballivor on the understanding that the drug facility it planned would be an exempted development. This entitled the company to build without seeking planning permission.

The exemption was granted by Meath County Council as the land was originally to be used as a nursing home, but in 2018 ABP overturned their decision following appeal by the local community. The saga continues, however, as Narconon appealed to the High Court and at the start of 2020 ABP’s decision was overturned.

As might have been predicted, ABP have appealed, and so it went before the Supreme Court. Narconon, ABP and the Ballivor locals wait with baited breath, we might imagine, until the final decision is made in the coming weeks.

An Irish solution

There are a number of things this case highlights and which could quickly become lost in the saga of appeals and counter-appeals. One of the most interesting things to note is the absence in this narrative of an organisation you might think would be a key player – the HSE. Why is it that, in a matter so clearly relevant to matters of public health, they do not even have a bit part?

On Thursday September 10, a debate was held in the Dáil on the question of Public Health, Well-being and National Drugs Strategy. As part of this debate, Meath TD and Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín pointed out that, as it currently stands, we are in “an incredible situation” where anyone could set up a residential drug rehabilitation centre.

“Right now, myself and the Acting Chairman, Deputy Durkan, could decide to set up a residential drug rehabilitation centre,” Mr Tóibín said. “We could deliver any service that we want to those individuals who come to us, and the State will take no interest and provide no oversight or guidelines.”

Mr Tóibín went on to highlight the case of the Narconon facility set up in Ballivor. He said that he enquired with the HSE if representatives from HIQA will be sent in to check on the facility. He was told that “HIQA will not send in representatives to see what is happening. I was told that it does not have responsibility in this area and neither does the HSE.”

Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mr Tóibín said that this was despite “the HSE having stated that there is no scientific proof for the efficacy of the services being delivered at this centre”.

“There is a fear that many of the people addicted to drugs there won’t have the necessary supports that they need,” he continued. “They are very vulnerable people, many of them will have mental health and psychiatric health issues.

“We’ve been asking the Government to bring about legislation which will allow at the very least HIQA inspections of residential drug rehabilitation centres so that at least the state has a duty of care to these vulnerable people.”

Concern

According to a 2019 report from the Health Research Board (HRB), 15% of all drug treatments in Ireland delivered between 2013 to 2019 took place in inpatient, residential facilities. The importance of regulating drug rehabilitation centres is likely to increase as Ireland sees continually high levels of drug use across many demographics.

In 2002, two in 10 adults reported having used illicit drugs: now, three in 10 report using illicit drugs, according to the HRB. While drug use among people who are unemployed has gone down, drug use is increasing among professionals. Between 2013 and 2019, the numbers reporting illicit drug use increased from 8% to 16%.

If the Government is serious about tackling the issue, then their policy must include a standardising body for residential drug rehabilitation centres”

In addition to this, a recent report from RTÉ suggests that drug use increases in periods of recession, something to monitor in the coming months. Finally, it is worth remembering that part of the Programme for Government was a proposal for a Citizen’s Assembly on the question of drugs policies.

Have no doubt, the question of drug use in Ireland is one that’s not going away. If the Government is serious about tackling the issue, then their policy must include a standardising body for residential drug rehabilitation centres, according to Mr Tóibín.

He said: “I understand that many of these do very, very good work and it would be hard for the state to bring about a piece of legislation to give oversight into what’s happening in them – but there’s no doubt in my mind that that has to happen because there’s big money in it.”