Heroin addicts trying to overcome their problem face a delay of up to six months for the methadone treatment programme, according to the Dundalk Drugs Action group.
Brian Doyle, who works with volunteers from the Dublin-based Anna Liffey project in Dundalk each week on a 'needle exchange' programme, highlighted the lengthy delays.
'Dundalk has the third longest wait for access to the methadone programme. It is an average of around four and a half months, but it has been up to six months. This is in comparison to a wait of just two weeks in Dublin,' said Brian.
'I do not want to criticise the staff who are currently working on the methadone programme in Dundalk. They do a fantastic job, but they are severely understaffed.'
He added that the Dundalk-based drugs action group has been campaigning for more GPs to take part in the methadone treatment programme, in an effort to provide greater access for users who are desperate to beat their addiction.
Source: the argus.ie, 20/03/13
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