Background to the Research

• The EDCT was set up in 1996 as part of the Northern Ireland Drugs Campaign. It includes individuals from statutory/non-statutory organisations who work together to address drug misuse.
• The report gives an overview of the extent and nature of drug misuse in the EHSSB and the agencies involved in tackling this issue.
  

Research Approach

• The research aims were achieved through the use of data collated by the EHSSB regarding population, deprivation and treatment for drug users.
  

Main Findings

• Seventy-four of the 162 registered addicts in NI 1997 lived in the EHSSB area.
• In the 1990s, agencies detected a relatively low level of drug activity, this peaked in 1995/96, although this has been declining it remains high in comparison to the beginning of the decade. Currently between 20-25% of referrals to CAT's and residential treatment centres in the EHSSB area are drug related with the majority of clients being multiple drug users.
• CAT's and hospitals offering in-patient treatment in the ESSSB area have seen a small but significant increase in the number of opiate (heroin) referrals between the period 1995-98. The majority of heroin users are aged 30+ and began to use opiates in NI.
• In the EHSSB area in 1994/95, a total of 29 reports were written for Drug Offences by the Probation Board. By 1996/97, this had risen to 67. Probation Orders made for Drug Offences totalled 3 in 1994/95 rising to 12 by 1996/97.

Conclusions

• Despite a considerable rise in drug misuse in the past 3-4 years in the EHSSB area, misuse remains comparatively low when compared with much of Europe, England, Scotland and Wales.
• Although data regarding referrals to agencies show a stabilising in the rates for so- called recreational drug users over the last 2 years, Belfast, ND&A and other parts of NI show a rise in heroin use in recent years.
• More local research in relation to drug misuse itself and into possible connections between drug misuse and deprivation is needed; this is necessary to assist in the planning, researching and targeting of local drug treatment services.
• The area of alcohol misuse in the EHSSB needs to be debated and researched as many agencies are experiencing an increase in referrals with regard to alcohol problems. Associations between alcohol and drug misuse warrant consideration of joint drug and alcohol research and strategies.