POSITIVE RESULTS IN WAR ON DRUGS

JUNIOR Minister for the National Drugs Strategy Eoin Ryan yesterday
welcomed a new report by the Health Research Board which shows inroads have
been made in addressing Ireland's drug problem.

However, he stressed that there was no room for complacency. "I am
confident that the 100 actions which are set out in the strategy will
continue to yield positive results and make a lasting difference to the
lives of those individuals, families and communities who have been affected
by drugs," Mr Ryan said. The Drug Misuse Research Division report based on
a survey of treatment clinics between 1996 and 2000 provides indicators of
emerging trends in drug misuse, he said.

These findings will be used in conjunction with a major study commissioned
by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs on heroin users in an attempt
to tackle Ireland's drug problem.

The National Drugs Strategy report showed that the numbers availing of
methadone treatment have jumped from 1,400 in 1997 to 6,000 today but this
increase is seen positively as an indication that the services are
attracting the drug-users they are designed to help.

However, it was highlighted the number of "first-time treatment contacts"
were down significantly in the Eastern Health Board Area which accounts for
the vast majority of drug-users in the country.

This is being interpreted as a levelling off in the use of heroin as
anecdotal evidence from the Local Drugs Task Force areas indicates a shift
in emphasis from treatment to preventative measures.

There is also a significant drop in numbers being treated for ecstasy and
cannabis in the Eastern region. Conversely, the report showed emerging
heroin use in isolated urban areas outside Dublin. Mr Ryan warned against
the growing incidence of risky behaviour among drug-users where users are
sharing injecting equipment. He said this was leading to the transmission
of HIV and Hepatitis C.

A positive shift in the profile of drug-users was also observed,
particularly amongst heroin users.

In 1996 only 9 per cent of drug-users in treatment were in the workforce
whereas in 1999 this figure has increased to 26 per cent.