Calls for clear targets to reduce hepatitis C infection among drug addicts have been accepted by the Minister responsible for the seven-year National Drugs Strategy.
The Minister of State for Local Development, Mr Eoin Ryan, said yesterday he was concerned about the high levels of hepatitis C and HIV infection among drug users and has been discussing with health boards how to deal with them.
"What we can do is talk to health boards about setting some sort of targets around reducing the levels of hepatitis C and HIV. There's no real problem with that. It's not a matter of deciding we will do it. It's a matter of getting people to sign up to it," he said.
The calls for specific targets were made this week by Merchant's Quay Ireland in Dublin, which runs the largest voluntary needle exchange programme in the State.
The organisation said in its annual report it was scandalous that the National Drugs Strategy launched last May did not have targets to tackle the "epidemic" of hepatitis C and HIV infection among drug users. Between 60 and 80 per cent of the State's estimated 13,000 drug users are infected with hepatitis C.
The report called for a range of measures to minimise risks associated with sharing needles, dangerous injecting techniques and accidental overdosing.
It proposed greater access to clean injecting equipment, peer advice and training on how to avoid overdose and infection and other services aimed at minimising drug-related harm.
Mr Ryan said steps planned to prevent the spread of hepatitis C and HIV through shared needles included an increased network of needle exchanges. These would be organised through health boards and pharmacies. He also highlighted the need for peer education and preventive work, with young people at risk of becoming drug users.
Ms Mary O'Shea, assistant director of Merchant's Quay Ireland, welcomed the Minister's remarks. She stressed the need for "user-friendly" needle exchanges open at weekends and on a 24-hour basis.