DRUGS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SAYS INVESTMENT IS WORKING

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs said investment in drug
detoxification programmes is paying off.

It says new research shows that taking part in the treatment
programmes does help reduce dependency.

More than 400 drug users took part in the study, which followed their
progress over the course of a year.

Completion rates were high with more than two-thirds finished the
detox courses.

Participants' use of heroin, cocaine, and alcohol fell in terms of
numbers reporting use, frequency of use and the average quantity of
each drug consumed.

One year on, three-quarters said they were not involved in any kind
of criminal activity - up from just 19 per cent at the start.

And in addition both their mental and physical health was much improved.