Drug treatment significantly boosts an addict’s chances of joining the workforce, as well as reducing their drug use and involvement in crime, new research published today has shown.
The
Research Outcome Study in Ireland Evaluating Drug Treatment Effectiveness(ROSIE) report was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD).
It is the first national longitudinal multi-site drug treatment outcome study in the country.
Researchers from NUI Maynooth followed the progress of 404 opiate users over three years from when they started a drug treatment programme.
They measured drug use, involvement in crime, injecting-related behaviour, physical and mental health and social functioning among those participating in the study.
They found significantly more participants were employed after three years of a drug treatment programme (33 per cent) than before they started the programme (20.5 per cent).
Heroin use reduced from 81 per cent at the start of the programme to 47 per cent after one year of treatment. Use of cannabis and cocaine also declined.
There were mixed results for physical and mental health symptoms which, according to the report, could be due to the measures used, poly-drug use or dual diagnosis issues.
Launching the report, Minister of State with Responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy John Curran said the findings were a clear indication that drug treatment works.
"The largest reductions in drug use and involvement in crime are achieved in year one and these reductions are sustained at the three-year follow up," he said.
"Similarly, in terms of personal development, a significant improvement is made from one-year (22 per cent) to three-years when 33 per cent of the study participants are in employment and/or training."
NACD chairman Dr Des Corrigan said the report demonstrated the retention rate in drug treatment in this country was very high.
"The ROSIE study has a high follow-up rate. 88 per cent of participants completed an interview at three years and 72 per cent completed all three interviews. The study demonstrates that the retention rate in drug treatment in Ireland is very high which contributes to saving lives."
Dr Corrigan said the mixed results for physical and mental health symptoms highlighted the challenges facing service providers in addressing polydrug use and delivery of care for those with a dual diagnosis.
The full ROSIE report is available on the NACD website
www.nacd.ie