Government says drugs policy has not failed

Government policies on reducing the demand for drugs have not failed and future policies will embrace a wider range of treatment options, the chairman of the National Drugs Strategy Review has said.

The Minister of State, Mr Eoin Ryan, was reacting to the annual report from the State's largest voluntary drug treatment centre. Published yesterday, the Merchant's Quay report says there was a 28 per cent rise in the number of new drug addicts presenting for treatment. It saw 650 new clients in 1999.

The report notes an increase of 22 per cent in the number of drug-related deaths recorded by the Dublin City and County Coroners between 1998 and 1999.

The project's director, Mr Tony Geoghegan, said there was "clearly an increase" in the number of people starting to use heroin.

"As regards the number of treatment places available, things are obviously better than they were five years ago, but there are about 7,000 to 8,000 addicts still outside treatment."

He said that even if 7,000 to 8,000 new treatment places were provided, it would be questionable whether many addicts would access them.

Referring to treatment regimes that penalise addicts who relapse, or who are found with alcohol or other drugs in their urine, he said many addicts felt "judged" by such programmes.

"They [clinics] don't vary the programmes, don't ask the addict what suits them. The clinics and those devising treatment programmes should be trying to engage with the addicts."

Attracting younger addicts into treatment might require "lowering expectations", he said.

Mr Ryan said a "huge" amount had been done over the past five years to address the issue of drug misuse.

"Obviously issues such as the need for a greater range of treatment options are being identified in the review."

He said the review, which reports in October, was examining a "wider and more comprehensive range of treatment options".

Meanwhile, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, announced last night by Mr Ryan, will have its first meeting in September.

Mr Ryan said the committee would advise the Government on an ongoing basis on the prevalence, prevention, treatment and consequences of drug use in Ireland.

The 19-person committee will be chaired by Dr Des Corrigan, of the department of pharmacology in Trinity College.