Homelessness and unemployment among drug users are in danger of undermining the benefits of the treatment they receive, according to a new study by the Health Research Board (HRB).
While millions of euro are spent on drug rehabilitation, the research warns that much more needs to be done to reduce homelessness, improve employment skills and increase education levels among problem drug users to increase their chances of rehabilitation and social reintegration.
The findings are contained in a study by Martin Keane, social researcher at the HRB, who monitored the availability and accessibility of education, accommodation and employment support among drug users.
Drug users are much more likely to be unemployed, have left school early, or be homeless, underlining the link between problem drug use and socio-economic disadvantage, according to Mr Keane.
"In 2003, a total of 20 per cent of people treated for problem drug use in this year also left school before the age of 15 which would indicate that many do not have a formal educational qualification," Mr Keane said.
The research says employment is a key part in the recovery of drug addicts. Numerous studies show that drug users who have jobs do not use their main drug as often and report better treatment outcomes than their unemployed counterparts.
"Drug rehabilitation services need to address the personal and structural barriers that prevent the majority of recovering drug users from entering the labour market," Mr Keane said.
"We are starting to see some success in this area in Ireland. For example, a small number of vocational rehabilitation interventions are seeing participants make progress by improving their literacy or achieving accredited training certificates.
"In some cases, participants have progressed to work placements and even into paid employment," he said.
"If we look at the drug users who presented for treatment in 2003, we find that only 20 per cent were employed while 61 per cent were unemployed.
"When we compare this to the general population we find the opposite; 65 per cent are employed and almost 5 per cent are unemployed."
Mr Keane said family breakdown, release from prison and leaving State care could expose individuals and families to homelessness and drug use.
"Evidence indicates that being homeless leads to an increase in drug use and this often progresses to patterns of chaotic use and poor physical and mental health," he said.
"It is essential that this downward spiral is tackled effectively otherwise the benefits of the treatment that these people receive will be quickly eroded," he said.
Irish and international research highlights the urgent need for an inter-agency approach to tackle the accommodation needs of drug users.
The HRB report, due to be published today, points to a success story in the US where homelessness was tackled through an integrated community-wide appr-oach including the provision of low-demand, permanent-supported housing.
Increased emphasis is being placed on rehabilitation of problem drug users.
Earlier this year, the National Drugs Strategy working group addressed the rehabilitation needs of drug users, identified the structural and operational arrangements required to respond to homelessness, education needs and poor employment skills among current, stabilised and former users.
