A working group for the implementation of this action of the national drug strategy has been established and is chaired by an official from my Department. The working group comprises members of the statutory and voluntary sectors.
To fulfil its remit, the group undertook a number of initiatives, including an examination of the legal issues surrounding treatment a literature review carried out by the Addiction Research Centre, a review of services and service gaps nationally, focus groups of services misusers within and outside the ERHA region and a review of the treatment issues raised by the above by a consultant adolescent and child psychiatrist in substance abuse.