People are registered on this index if they are known to be, or if a medical practitioner considers them to be, addicted to one or more of 14 controlled drugs. These controlled drugs include Heroin, Cocaine, Methadone and Morphine.
Information included in this bulletin is:
The number of persons registered at 31 December 2007 and the number of new notifications and removals in 2007.
Gender, Age, HSS Trusts where registered, drugs used, injecting behaviour, and duration on Index.
This publication is also available online at the DHSSPS website
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Key Findings
The key findings in this bulletin are:
There were 257 persons registered on the Addicts Index at 31 December 2007, a decrease of 31 from 288 persons registered at 31 December 2006.
There were 206 renotifications in 2007, compared to 190 in 2006. There were 51 new notifications to the Addicts Index in 2007. 82 cases were removed from the Addicts Index during 2007.
The gender profile in 2007 is similar to that in 2006 where 81% of addicts were male in 2007, and 78% in 2006. The age profile has changed slightly, with 29% of registered addicts being aged 29 years and under in 2007, compared to 34% in 2006.
Heroin was the most frequently used notifiable drug, reported by 75% of all addicts registered at 31 December 2007. Methadone (28%) and cocaine (6%) remain the next most commonly reported drugs.
In 2007, 44% of those registered addicts whose injecting behaviour was known reported currently injecting. The corresponding figure for 2006 was 42%.
Of the 257 addicts on the Index, 51 were registered within the last year. 133 addicts have been registered between one and five years.
Notes to Editors:
1.This information was collated by the Public Health Information and Research Branch (PHIRB) on behalf of the DHSSPS.
2.The Addicts Index Statistical Bulletin will be published on an annual basis. The next publication is scheduled for 5th March 2009.
Additional Information
Further information is available from:
Public Health Information and Research Branch Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Annex 2 Castle Buildings Stormont BT4 3UD Tel: 028 9052 2520 Email: phirb@dhsspsni.gov.uk Internet: DHSSPS website
3.Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
