The only drug treatment centre in the north-east of the State closed its doors yesterday, blaming a lack of funding from either the Government or the North Eastern Health Board (NEHB).
Ms Marie Byrne, director of the Bradan Day Programme, which was based in Navan and has helped over 75 people become drug-free in the last four years, said: "I have spent most of my time fighting the bureaucratic system in Ireland, rather than drug addiction."
The centre has treated children as young as 12 for cannabis abuse and says that cocaine and crack cocaine are as readily available in the region as heroin, ecstasy or cannabis.
Yesterday, Ms Byrne was preparing to let two full-time addiction councillors go. She said the centre could not remain open without funding that, to date, has come primarily from the NEHB.
The programme provided assessments and counselling, committing clients to sign a contract to stay drug-free for six months. It followed this with a year of after-care. More than 40 people will be affected by its closure.
"Ireland has one of the highest rates of drug-use in Europe, and we are treating people from Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Kildare and Dublin but Minister Noel Ahern is giving all national funding to Dublin, Cork and Bray," she added.
This was confirmed by the office of the Minister. A spokesperson said: "All monies currently available to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for drugs programmes are earmarked for Local Drugs Task Force areas in Dublin, Cork and Bray."
The NEHB provided funding of over €44,000 in 2003, and said it would this year provide funding for individuals that it referred to the programme on a one-by-one basis. Ms Byrne said the NEHB has never referred anyone to the programme and, without the commitment to fund it, the centre had to close.
Yesterday a number of addicts who are drug-free and receiving treatment on the programme said its closure would have a severe impact on them.
Mary (27) said: "I don't know what I am going to do. I started drugs when I was 16 and was on heroin for the last seven years. I was on methadone for the last two years, but it is still a drug and you are not clean."