National Prison Based Addiction Counselling Service

MQI operates an Addiction Based Counselling Service in 13 prisons across Ireland. Prisoners can benefit from professional addiction counselling through structured assessments and evidence based counselling interventions with clearly defined treatment plans and goals.

This service is available to prisoners with a history of drug use, such as opiates, cocaine, alcohol, and other illegal and non-legal drugs.

Services:

• One-to-one counselling
• Group work
• Overdose prevention awareness
• Motivational interviewing/therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Relapse prevention
• Release planning
• Referrals to community and residential services

Prisons MQI operate in:

• Castlerea Prison – Co. Roscommon
• Cork Prison – Co. Cork
• Limerick Prison – Co. Limerick
• Loughan House, Open Centre – Co. Cavan
• Mountjoy Prison – Co. Dublin
  • Male Prison
  • Dochas Female Prison
  • Mountjoy West Progression Unit
• Shelton Abbey – Co. Wicklow
• West Dublin Prison Campus – Co. Dublin
  • Wheatfield
  • Cloverhill (remand prisoners)
• Portlaoise Prison – Co Laois
• Midlands Prison – Co Laois

If you know someone in prison or are concerned about a prisoner then advise them to ask any of the prison health care team about the MQI counselling service.

Useful links

• Department of Justice and Equality
• Irish Penal Reform Trust
• Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders
• The Probation Service
• St Nicholas Trust (Support for the Families of Prisoners) – Cork
• Bedford Row Family Project (Support for the Families of Prisoners) – Limerick
• Irish Prison Service (Information on all prisons in Ireland)Care After Prison