Heroin addicts being used as 'bargaining chip'

The HSE and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union are being accused of using drug addicts as a bargaining chip in their dispute over medicine prices.

More than 140 pharmacies are refusing to disburse methadone to heroin addicts from today as part of a row over the HSE's plans to cut the wholesale price it pays for medicine.

Up to 3,000 people will be affected by the move and the HSE has warned that it could cause public order problems.

Tony Geoghegan of the Merchants Quay project says some addicts may be unaware of the alternative arrangements and may be panicking.