Pubdate: Tue, 22 Aug 2000
Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland)
Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000
Contact:  http://www.examiner.ie/
Author: Cormac O'Keeffe

RESEARCH REVEALS OVER 13,000 USING HEROIN AND METHADONE

Over 8,500 Irish people are addicted to heroin, new research has revealed.

A further 5,000 people are taking heroin or methadone, but are not yet 
problematic users.

The report, carried out by Dr Catherine Comiskey of the National University 
of Ireland Maynooth, is the first country wide prevalence study of opiate 
heroin and methadone use.

In her report, Dr Comiskey points out that the 8,500 figure only refers to 
problematic users, ie, those seeking treatment or hospital services.

She estimates that, based on a broader definition of opiate use, including 
indicators such as police data, there are 13,735 opiate users in the 
country. Of these, at least 5,235 people are not yet addicted to opiates 
and may be at the experimental or recreational stage.

Leading anti heroin campaigner Deputy Tony Gregory said the research 
confirmed our worst fears that there were in excess of 13,000 people using 
heroin.

"This is despite the huge investment put in by communities and the 
government in response to the crisis."

He said it took 20 years for the drugs problem to reach crisis levels and 
said it would take a very long time to deal with it.

The Dublin deputy said it was very important to have accurate research 
about drug use.

"It's very difficult to have a correct strategy if you don't know the 
extent of the problem."

Dr Comiskey's report estimates there are between 4,000 and 8,500 people 
addicted to opiates. However, Dr Comiskey said the 4,000 figure was a 
serious underestimate of the true national prevalence of opiate use. There 
are several thousand heroin and methadone addicts who are not included in 
official treatment figures.

According to the National Drug Treatment Figures for 1997 only 3,839 people 
were misusing opiates.

The report points out that 98% of opiate users are from the Eastern Health 
Board area, primarily Dublin. Dr Comiskey says that of the 13,735 users, 
275 are outside that area.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart