Professor Catherine Comiskey:

The last time I looked at the figures, we had approximately 13,000 or maybe a little more people on opiate agonist treatment, OAT, which is methadone, and more than 20,000 people were using opiates. That is the estimate of the numbers. We had more than 50% the last time I looked at it. I may not be fully up to date. However, not everyone who uses opiates or heroin needs to go on methadone. They may use it at weekends.