HEROIN smokers aged between 15 and 18 are now receiving treatment under Eastern Health Board programmes, the COCAD conference was told.
More than 1,200 people, meanwhile, have been added to drug treatment lists over the past year, according to Ms Carmel Dunne, a local development area co-ordinator and member of the EHB Drug Strategy Team.
Seven-day methadone dispensing has now been introduced at treatment clinics in Ballyfermot, Amiens Street and Ballymun, to prevent weekend supplies of methadone to addicts reaching the streets.
Over the past year, 77 young heroin smokers had taken part in treatment programmes at three locations in Dublin. These addicts were aged between 15 and 18.
The health board intended to double the number of drug treatment centres available and help provide more localised satellite centres with GPs prescribing methadone.
Improved after-care services and rehabilitation schemes were also needed.
"There is enormous pressure, from communities to reduce the waiting lists for programmes. Some people don't even bother going on the waiting lists and look for treatment privately elsewhere," said Ms Dunne.
More family doctors were now willing to become involved in drug treatment programmes.
The number of GPs willing to prescribe was now 58, compared to only 15 at the beginning of the year.
Twenty-two pharmacists were also now prepared to dispense methadone, compared to only three at the start of 1996, said Ms Duane.