Addict rehabilitation is Government priority

REHABILITATION of drug addicts is the new priority of the Government’s national drugs strategy, as figures show that the number being treated with methadone has more than doubled.

Alcohol will not become part of the strategy, despite calls from community and voluntary groups as well as medical experts that it be included. With more than 7,500 recovering heroin addicts on methadone maintenance, the Government said it needs to provide these people with more than just a substitute drug.

"Given the increase on the treatment side, from about 3,500 people to over 7,500, we need to be doing more with those people," said one source.