‘Significant heroin problem’ outside of Dublin, warns HSE

THERE is a “significant heroin problem” outside Dublin and substitution treatment is now an “urgent priority”, according to a HSE report.

The review of the methadone treatment system said addicts not in treatment were around three times more likely to die than those who are stable in treatment.

Lead author Professor Michael Farrell of King’s College London said the Methadone Treatment Protocol, set up in 1998, had “very considerable” successes in containing drug-related deaths and cutting HIV transmission levels.