While methadone does not cure heroin addiction it can play a crucial role in an addict's recovery, according to Dr Joe Barry. He is medical adviser to he National Drug Strategy Team and works as a specialist in public health medicine at the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
He believes methadone is often "blamed for the drugs problem. In reality what it does is takes an addict out of the street situation where they are hustling for drugs and puts them into a clinic environment," he says.
"And it is a very useful means by which the health services can keep in regular contact with addicts. This has led to a fall in cases of hepatitis C and HIV in recent years and it also enables addicts with children to become better, more stable parents."
But the State needs to invest more time and money in the area of drug prevention, according to Dr Barry. He believes a massive push should be made to keep children from deprived areas in secondary schools for much longer than at present. And while in school, at-risk children could be catered for with smaller class sizes and more intensive attention from teachers and counsellors.
He also believes spending on post-methadone recovery facilities needs to be increased if more addicts are to progress to drug-free lives. However, he insists the State's investment in methadone maintenance over the last decades has been a positive development.
According to the Department of Health there are currently 6,423 addicts on the State's central treatment list. Addicts on methadone maintenance need a prescription from a GP before they are supplied with the drug. They then visit their local chemist where methadone is dispensed. Because methadone had been finding its way onto the streets, many addicts are required to drink the liquid drug while still in the pharmacy.
A total of 181 GPs and 254 pharmacies are registered with the Department of Health's central treatment list. GPs are paid €1,000 per year for each addict. Pharmacists are paid €32 per month for each addict they dispense to.
That means 181 GPs around the country are sharing in €6.4 million each year for treating addicts. And the 254 pharmacists operating as part of the scheme are sharing in €2.5 million.