Irish addiction services - past, present and future.

To discuss the development of addiction services into the future, one must first examine the historical response to the misuse of substances in this country. A brief overview reveals wide disparity between, the treatment of opioid dependence in the east of the country and the way statutory services deal with the significant problem of alcohol misuse. A comprehensive model is required to deal with addiction on a national basis that necessitates the amalgamation of the drug and alcohol services