Reportedly, according to a study carried out by Trinity college academics concerning twenty five recipients of methadone maintenance treatment, sixteen of which for over twenty years, users view themselves as lifers, methadone as a ball and chain and say doctors rarely help in getting them off the drug. According to the report those who wanted to reduce the dose or become drug free were not allowed to discuss it with the clinician.
Indefinite methadone maintenance therapy was introduced in Ireland in the late 1980’s due to what is described as an epidemic of heroine use and associated danger of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and aids. According to a report in 1999, 40% of aids victims injected drugs.
Northern Ireland unionist paramilitary groups are believed to be involved in a politicised drug strategy. The release of prisoners from the Maize in 2000 according to a source was followed by a lack of services including interrupted income support payments, leading to crime.
By 2017 45% of drug misuse in Ireland was related to heroine. In 2019 heroin addiction was said to be the problem in the majority of cases needing treatment. Opiates are reportedly the main drug related to drug induced deaths. There were 736 drug related deaths in Ireland in 2016.