HEROIN addicts in Dublin will get methadone treatment on demand by the end of next year. The promise was made yesterday by the Minister of State for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
He said waiting lists in Dublin for treatment with the substitute drug would end under a £14 million "action plan" outlined by a ministerial task force report.
There are currently an estimated 2,500 addicts waiting for treatment in Dublin although an unknown number might also seek help if services were expanded.
Mr Rabbitte was publishing the First Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the Demand for Drugs. The task force, set up in July, consisted of Ministers of State at a number of Government Departments. Its report was accepted by the Government on Thursday.
Much of it is a review of existing programmes and aims in the State and voluntary sector.
The main new elements include the provision of an extra £14 million for treatment facilities, the improvement of housing estates, and a pyramid of "drug teams" from local level upwards.
The Taoiseach is to chair a Cabinet drugs committee to give "political direction" to anti drug efforts. At local level State, voluntary and health board initiatives are to be co ordinated.
The report highlights the heroin problem in 10 districts of Dublin and one in Cork, and says resources should be focused there. The Dublin areas are north and south inner city, Ballymun, Ballyfermot, Finglas/Cabra, Crumlin, Coolock, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin and Tallaght. North Cork city is also included.
The Independent Dublin TD, Mr Tony Gregory, said the commitment to methadone "treatment on demand" was a welcome step, but he urged the task force to work quickly and report on rehabilitation and therapeutic forms of treatment.
Mr Eric Byrne, a Dublin Democratic Left TD, said he broadly welcomed the report but was dismayed the task force did not take up the party's recommendation of a single statutory drug agency for Dublin.
The city is currently served by the Eastern Health Board as well as the Drug Treatment Centre Board (Trinity Court) in Pearse Street. He said the existence of two statutory agencies dealing with one problem could very often lead to duplication and professional rivalries" and he would continue to press for such a single agency for the city. Mr Rabbitte said services could be coordinated without the need for a single body.
Mr Tony Geoghegan of the Merchant's Quay Drug Project in Dublin said the report was a disappointment.
"There's nothing much new in it," he said. "It's very aspirational but short on practicals. I would have preferred it to have set out more specific, achievable goals."
He said the report, for example, said more GPs should become involved with drug users, but did not say how they might be persuaded to do so. Neither did it explain what "elimination of waiting lists" would involve.
"What are they going to do, treat 7,000 addicts?" he asked.
However, he welcomed the report's emphasis on a wider response to the drug problem in disadvantaged areas, including its stress on inter agency co operation at local level, and on sport and youth activities.
Mr Rabbitte said he would have "expected a more considered response from somebody of his track record".