Heroin addiction is major problem among users seeking rehabilitation

Six children aged between 11 and 15 underwent drug rehabilitation programmes by Caritas last year.

Another 128 were aged between 16 and 20 and 326 were in their 20s. More men than women took part in the programmes.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony for 18 young people on Friday, Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech said about 40 of the 671 people who took part in the programmes last year were students. More than 200 had a job and more than half the participants were unemployed.

The biggest group of clients - 37.5 per cent - hailed from the southern harbour region, followed by almost 30 per cent from the northern harbour region.

Caritas' statistics show that the biggest problem lies with heroin addiction, which accounted for 77 per cent of those undergoing the rehabilitation programme. Eleven per cent were cannabis users and about nine per cent had a problem with cocaine.

Mgr Grech urged the youngsters not resort to drugs, adding that Caritas also offered an aftercare service for those who had just completed the programme.

He said society should help young people by offering them decent and stable employment. Although the rehabilitation programme was not easy, demand was on the increase. In fact, the number of clients rose by 21 per cent last year over 2005, Mgr Grech reported.