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.