The NACDA was established in response to the drug problem to assist in our continued need to improve our knowledge and understanding of problem drug use.
The goal of the NACDA is to advise the Government on problem drug use in Ireland in relation to prevalence, prevention consequences and treatment based on our analysis and interpretation of research findings.
National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) says investment in drug treatment is paying off
Ireland’s first national longitudinal study on drug misuse treatment is showing that significant reductions in drug use and involvement in crime by participants were achieved after one year of treatment. The research was commissioned by the NACD in fulfilment of Action 99 of the National Drugs Strategy and was carried out by the National University of Ireland Maynooth. Dr Catherine Comiskey, Principal Investigator presented the first findings from ROSIE which is an acronym for Research Outcome Study in Ireland evaluating drug treatment effectiveness. Researchers recruited 404 opiate users when they started drug treatment (between September 2003 and July 2004) and followed them over one year. Interviews were carried out when the opiate user entered drug treatment, after 6 months and after 12 months.
Launching the ROSIE Findings 1: Summary of 1-year outcomes, Mr Noel Ahern TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy said, “I welcome this timely research which provides much needed information on how well people do when they go for drug treatment. Expanding the provision of drug services has been a cornerstone of the National Drugs Strategy. The Government commitment of funding to tackling drug misuse over the last 10 years is now showing benefit, however, we will continue to watch trends and respond to an ever changing drugs misuse environment.”
75% (n=305) of the study group were interviewed at 12 months, and the key findings include:
Dr Des Corrigan, NACD Chairperson, said,
“We have met with the Minister and outlined our main conclusion to him that investment in opiate treatment services leads to benefits to the individual drug user, to their family and to the rest of the community and that this investment must be continued. The NACD has funded the continuation of the study to provide information on the participants, 3-years after entry to treatment.”
Further findings will be published from the study in the coming months.
Notes to the Editor:
Research methodology:
The methodology used is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Participants were interviewed at the three time periods using a pre-prepared interview schedule, which examined key outcome measures including:
ENDS
For further information: please contact Gerald Nash (087 2716816) / Pat Montague (087 2549123) at Montague Communications, tel. 01 8303116.