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14/12/2005
Report calls for more resources for drug abusers
A major University of Ulster research project has called for more resources to ensure effective targeted treatment for drug abusers in the Republic.
Researchers at the School of Psychology at the Magee campus in Derry propose the introduction of drug-misuser profiles, which they have identified, in deciding which intervention programme best suits a patient’s behaviour and circumstances.
It also urges an evaluation of current care options, suggesting that they often fail to match the needs of the patient.
The study, in cooperation with the Health Research Board, Dublin, profiled treated drug misuse in the Republic for the first time.
It uncovered six distinct profiles of drug consumption patterns among 6,994 individuals who received treatment for drug misuse during 2000.
The researchers identified them as Recreational, Experimental, Multi-combination use, Methadone, Benzodiazepine and Heroin Misuse.
“Drug treatment services need to be tailored to match the needs and profile of the individual,” said Paul Cahill, who was awarded a Health Services Board research fellowship to conduct the study.
“Resources in the 1980/90s were primarily aimed at dealing with the heroin problem, a high-profile issue which was and still is a major issue. However, by doing that, services may not have been tailored to the specific needs of other groups looking for treatment for their drug problems.”
“We need to ensure that resources are channelled in a way that is not at the expense of any one category of drug users."
(MB/SP)
Researchers at the School of Psychology at the Magee campus in Derry propose the introduction of drug-misuser profiles, which they have identified, in deciding which intervention programme best suits a patient’s behaviour and circumstances.
It also urges an evaluation of current care options, suggesting that they often fail to match the needs of the patient.
The study, in cooperation with the Health Research Board, Dublin, profiled treated drug misuse in the Republic for the first time.
It uncovered six distinct profiles of drug consumption patterns among 6,994 individuals who received treatment for drug misuse during 2000.
The researchers identified them as Recreational, Experimental, Multi-combination use, Methadone, Benzodiazepine and Heroin Misuse.
“Drug treatment services need to be tailored to match the needs and profile of the individual,” said Paul Cahill, who was awarded a Health Services Board research fellowship to conduct the study.
“Resources in the 1980/90s were primarily aimed at dealing with the heroin problem, a high-profile issue which was and still is a major issue. However, by doing that, services may not have been tailored to the specific needs of other groups looking for treatment for their drug problems.”
“We need to ensure that resources are channelled in a way that is not at the expense of any one category of drug users."
(MB/SP)
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