Rise in drug-users at treatment centre

The number of drug-users presenting at one of Dublin's largest drug-treatment centres increased by almost a third last year, as compared with 1998, according to a report to be published today.

The Merchant's Quay Project annual report also reports an increase in the number of young drug-users sleeping rough and the number of new young injectors. The open access service at the project saw a 28 per cent increase in client visits - a total of 33,090 visits, or 138 per day - last year.

The reports says the most vulnerable drug-users are not being reached by treatment services, and are therefore more likely to engage in high-risk drug use. "There is an immediate need to develop a range of accessible programmes at local level," says the director of the Merchant's Quay Project, Mr Tony Geoghegan, in an opening commentary. "Both homelessness and lack of experience of drug use make these drug-users a particularly vulnerable group in terms of risk of infection and general health and wellbeing.

"Crisis services or programmes for those still actively using drugs remain the least acceptable face of drug treatment," he notes. Consequently, these were the most difficult to establish.

The increased demand for the services at Merchant's Quay demonstrates that social change still lags behind economic development, he continues.

"Drug-users and most of the families affected by drug use have not benefited and continue to experience poverty and exclusion."

The report also notes an increase of 22 per cent in the number of deaths recorded as drug-related by the Dublin City and County Coroners last year. The number rose from 70 in 1998 to 86 last year. If the Government seriously wishes to make inroads into the drug problem, the only way forward is to provide a "balanced and comprehensive range of drug treatment, from full harm reduction programmes through to drug-free and after-care services" the report concludes.

The Merchant's Quay Project, a voluntary drug-treatment centre, was founded by the Franciscan community in 1989. It offers open access, day support, residential and reintegration programmes.