MOVES AFOOT FOR YOUNG DRUG USERS

A PARENTAL consent requirement that is preventing hundreds of young heroin
users from accessing methadone treatment is currently being reviewed by the
government.

The fact that a person under 18 years of age needs parental permission to
take up methadone treatment has effectively kept many underage drug users
out of the system. The establishment of regional task forces to develop
policies for their own areas is a central tenet of the government's drug
strategy for 2001 to 2008, which was unveiled last week.

The Minister for Local Development with Special Responsibility for the
Drugs Strategy, Eoin Ryan, is now setting up an expert group to tackle the
thorny issue of parental consent.