The number of people accessing methadone in the past decade has risen by more than 600% in some counties.
Figures show Ireland’s use of methadone treatment protocol, used to treat heroin addiction, has rapidly increased in parts of the country.
The number of users in Co Kerry in 2018 is almost seven times higher than it in 2008, going from 13 to 89.
Cork has seen a 400% increase, with 91 methadone users in 2008, and 398 in 2018.
Users in Co Tipperary have increased from 40 to 155, and in Co Waterford they rose from 19 to 157.
Counties such as Carlow, Cavan, Kilkenny, Longford, Offaly, Louth, Wexford, Galway and Clare have all seen their figures at least double since 2008. In contrast, Dublin has slightly reduced its methadone user numbers from 6,669 in 2008 to 6,230 last year.
For the past 20 years, methadone has been the mainstay of harm reduction services in Ireland. There are currently 10,203 people in a methadone treatment programme across Ireland, 7,159 men and 3,042 women.
The majority of people in the programme are aged 45 years and over. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central Jonathan O’Brien has raised the issue of the ever-growing problem of heroin in Cork City with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and said additional Garda resources to fight supply gangs and improved addiction supports is the best way to tackle the issue.
He added: “These figures are worrying for a number of reasons.
“Firstly they show that more and more people are seeking treatment for heroin addiction, which is positive, but they also show up the failure in drugs policy to trying to get individuals into treatment programmes.
“There is simply not enough resources being put into the services a recovering addict needs, life skills, counselling to address underlying mental health issues.
“Putting people on methadone should be a short term stop gap measure to allow adequate services be put in place such as residential detox beds and rehab.”
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
