Working With Drug Users

• Drug Free Treatment encompasses residential treatment, drugs counseling and peer support such as Narcotics Anonymous.
   
  
• Residential treatment in "Therapeutic Communities" is effective in reducing drug use, reducing crime and increasing employment [1].
   
  
• Residential programmes generally involve individual counselling, group therapy, educational groups and recreational activity [2].
   
  
• There are currently less than 200 residential treatment beds for an estimated 14,452 heroin users in Ireland approximately 30 detoxification beds and 150 drug free beds. This is compared to approximately 7,390 methadone treatment places [3].
   
  
• International research indicates that outpatient drug free counselling is associated with reductions in drug use and crime and improvements in health and wellbeing [4].
   
  
• After-care and support for people completing drug free treatment are critical because completing such a programme carries many dangers. A person's physical tolerance of drugs plummets after giving up drugs and if they suddenly start using again, the risk of overdosing and dying are high [5].
   
  
• Often people who have engaged in problem drug use have lived on the margins of society therefore to achieve integration a holistic approach must be taken which permeates all aspects of their lives [6].
   
  
• Training and education programmes have been shown to be effective mechanisms in supporting former drug users to maintain their drug free status [7, 8, 9].
   
  
• Research indicates a strong association between the length of time engaged in the treatment process and positive outcomes [10].