The number of drug addicts who contacted the largest voluntary drug treatment centre in the State increased by almost 20 per cent in one year, writes Kitty Holland.
The figures, which are included in the Merchants Quay Project annual report, to be published today, show the drugs situation is far from under control, despite Government claims to the contrary, according to the director.
The report shows a 9 per cent increase in the number of drug-users attending the Health Promotion Unit over the year 2001 to 2002, from 3,648 to 3,842.
There were 678 new clients seeking drug treatment over the year, while the number of total contacts increased from 20,262 in 2001 to 24,058 last year, an 18 per cent increase.
The Merchants Quay Project provides support for both the homeless and drug-users. Its director, Mr Tony Geoghegan, said the figures were disappointing, but he was not surprised.
"What it shows is that the official message from Government, that the number of drug-users is under control and that the number of homeless people is levelling off, is not true.
"The high level of take-up of these services highlights the failure of current Government policy to address these issues.
"There has been no reduction in homeless since 1999, despite a three-year strategy to reduce it, and we still have 14,500 drug-users nationally."