Drugs ‘hinder methadone treatment’

LARGE numbers of heroin addicts on the State’s methadone treatment scheme are not keeping off the drug because they are also abusing cocaine and legal tranquillisers, according to new research.

The report said abuse of these drugs represented a “growing challenge” to treatment services trying to keep clients off heroin.

Researchers found only one third of people who attended a clinic specifically for those with chronic addiction problems were able to stay off heroin for the three-month study period.

However, the researchers said this rate was “quite good” by international standards.

They said that, of the remaining two-thirds, 20% only used heroin infrequently. But almost half continued to use heroin.

Researchers said this was partly because many of the addicts were being given an inadequate dose of methadone and were also abusing cocaine and benzodiazepines (legal tranquillisers prescribed by GPs).

“Poorer outcome was significantly associated with lower methadone dose, cocaine abuse and intermittent benzodiazepine use,” said the report.

Benzodiazepines are typically used by heroin users to cope with cravings.

The report, published in the Irish Medical Journal, found that four out of 10 clients at the Dublin Treatment Centre Board at Trinity Court abused cocaine during the study period. Two-thirds showed evidence of benzodiazepine use.

Government figures show that 8,000 heroin addicts are receiving methadone in clinics around the country. Previous research has estimated there are about 14,500 heroin users in the country.

The research comes as a community representative body today launches a campaign calling for the drugs crisis to be made an election issue.

The Dublin Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign wants a new deal to be put in place by the Government, involving state agencies and local communities, which recognised the “scale and seriousness” of the problem.

It says the supply of heroin is increasing and that cocaine use is booming across the country.

Meanwhile, research to be published this week in the UK claims that government efforts there to persuade young people to stay away from drugs has failed.

The report, by the UK Drugs Policy Commission, said “recreational” drug use seemed to be established as an experience many young people go through.