Debate contribution: Treatment and Recovery Centre in the North-west
Debate contribution by Mr Alan Chambers on .
- MLA
- Mr Alan Chambers
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 4 March 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Treatment and Recovery Centre in the North-west
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4833413
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you very much for calling me. I thank the Opposition for tabling the motion. Any opportunity to discuss and highlight the damages of substance misuse is to be welcomed. Substance misuse, whether of drugs or alcohol, is undoubtedly a serious problem across Northern Ireland. Misuse can destroy lives, and, sadly, as happens all too often here, it claims lives. Excess alcohol consumption alone costs Northern Ireland up to as much as £900 million every year, but, as the debate has rightly highlighted, misuse is not just a financial problem but a human one. It is a sad reality that addiction is an issue gripping many families across our region. Sometimes, addiction is known and can be seen; sometimes, it is hidden. Either way, it is a tragedy for the people involved and their families. Much as I fully understand the logic that we can no longer continue to do the same thing and hope for a different outcome, we need to invest more in specialist addition services, more early intervention measures and more front-line support. The framework for tackling the problem already exists: the Department's appropriately titled 'Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery' framework is a clear, action-led document to allow people to access the support that they need. Thankfully, the plan has a particular emphasis on prevention and intervening before misuse escalates into something even more damaging. I can empathise entirely with the particular focus in the motion on a north-west treatment centre, and the 'New Decade, New Approach' document will, understandably, have raised expectations further. It is regrettable that there has been so much uncertainty over funding contributions. Nevertheless, I was pleased to note the recent announcement of PEACE PLUS funding of €8 million for a community alcohol detox+ (CAD+) project. Reiterating the comments of colleagues, I commend all the staff and volunteers at the Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre, who provide a truly incredible service for people across Northern Ireland. It has become clear that the Minister has a commendable focus on tackling health inequalities. The most recent annual report — last year's — once again set out in incredibly stark terms how alcohol and drug misuse indicators continue to show some of the largest of all the health inequalities that are being monitored. I am sure that there are many issues that occupy the mind of the Minister, but the sheer level of inequality, combined with the harm and sadness caused by substance misuse, likely features prominently with him.
411 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not qualifying”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (qualifying needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not qualifying).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.89).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-qualifying threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.89 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-qualifying threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.78 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.10 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.06 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.03 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.02 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:05 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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