Recent expansion in the provision of needle exchange services in approximately 65 community pharmacists outside Dublin, along with needle-exchange services provided in Dublin, meant there was now broad national coverage for drug users, according to the Department of Health.


Opening the National Drugs Conference last week, Minister for State with responsibility for Primary Care Roísín Shortall, who revealed a national substance misuse strategy incorporating alcohol and drugs was presently being drawn up, told delegates that patients could now access methadone provision within one month of assessment in Dublin.

There was also a major focus on increasing the availability of drugs services outside Dublin, with additional services established recently in Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford and Dundalk.