Pubdate: Sun, 13 May 2001
Source: Sunday Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: 2001 Independent Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.ie/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/434
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

MOVES AFOOT FOR YOUNG DRUG USERS

A PARENTAL consent requirement that is preventing hundreds of young heroin 
users from accessing methadone treatment is currently being reviewed by the 
government.

The fact that a person under 18 years of age needs parental permission to 
take up methadone treatment has effectively kept many underage drug users 
out of the system. The establishment of regional task forces to develop 
policies for their own areas is a central tenet of the government's drug 
strategy for 2001 to 2008, which was unveiled last week.

The Minister for Local Development with Special Responsibility for the 
Drugs Strategy, Eoin Ryan, is now setting up an expert group to tackle the 
thorny issue of parental consent.
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MAP posted-by: GD