Figures obtained by The Irish Times reveal a near doubling in the past 10 years in the number of addicts undergoing methadone treatment; from 5,498 in 1998 to just under 10,000 at present.
News that the figures are about to pass 10,000 comes just days after gardaí revealed record seizures of heroin in recent months.
Heroin valued at €18.2 million has been seized since the start of the year, the equivalent of 75 per cent of last year's total seizures.
The new figures on heroin users in treatment reveal most addicts reside in Dublin, which until now has had the only well-established heroin problem in the country.
The number of prisoners in treatment in jails has also increased very significantly in recent years.
However, many counties where there had never been a heroin problem are now witnessing very strong demand for methadone treatment. Methadone is a prescribed heroin substitute.
The numbers in treatment in the regions are small compared to Dublin, but the growth in the demand for services there is far outstripping Dublin.
The figures were supplied to The Irish Times by the Drug Treatment Centre Board, which co-ordinates methadone treatment in the State. The figures are based on the former 10 health board areas. Comparative figures for each area are available for the period 2001 to 2006.
In the east coast health board area, which covers southeast Dublin and east Wicklow, the number of users in treatment rose from 768 in 2001 to 969, an increase of 26 per cent.
In the northern health board area, which covers north Dublin city and Co Dublin and west Dublin north of the Liffey, the numbers rose from 2,590 in 2001 to 3,248 in 2006, up 25 per cent.
In the southwestern health board, which covers southwest Dublin as well as the south inner city and Kildare and west Wicklow, the numbers in treatment increased from 3,353 in 2001 to 3,970 in 2006, up 18 per cent.
In the remaining seven former health board areas the numbers in treatment range from five to 176 users. The greatest increase in the demand for services has been in the mid-western area which covers Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary, where the numbers in treatment have increased more than fourfold from 43 in 2001 to 176 in 2006.
The northeastern area, which covers Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth, saw the numbers in treatment rise from 53 in 2001 to 165 in 2006.
In the midlands area, covering Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, the numbers in treatment have increased from 53 to 140.
In the Republic's prisons, the number of inmates receiving methadone has increased from 859 in 1998 to 1,363 in 2006. Mountjoy Prison in Dublin is now the biggest methadone clinic in the country.
Source: Irish Times, 07/08/2008
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