Health service struggles to admit people for addiction treatment

People with substance-use problems are struggling to get help with detoxification in psychiatric care, the head of the Herbergið shelter said, according to KVF.

Martin Kúrberg said it was “extremely difficult” to secure a place on a psychiatric ward for a proper detox. He spoke after Leivur Halldórsson was repeatedly left waiting when seeking help, as shown in the programme Leivur wants to live.

Kúrberg questioned whether the psychiatric ward had room for someone like Halldórsson and said the problem was recurring, not an isolated case. He criticised the health service for failing to provide enough help to people with addictions.

The programme shows Halldórsson going to the Psychiatric Centre twice for planned detoxification, but both attempts fail. Kúrberg said the system was broken and that people with addictions should have access to a separate detox service.

KVF discussed the programme on its radio show Breddin. Tórmóður Stórá, chief physician at the Psychiatric Centre, appeared in the television studio.