Draft national standards for residential facilities for those with drug, alcohol and gambling related problems were launched this afternoon.

Justice Minister Chris Said said the state had a duty to provide services, such as those it provided through Sedqa and various non-governmental organisations.

For the first time national standards were being issued as part of the national drugs policy, which improved the level of service users received.

The underlying principles were dignity, privacy, the right to choose, security, the ability of a person, equality and diversity.

The standards, which are in draft form and which are being issued for public consultation until December 28, were drawn up by the Department for Social Welfare Standards through a working group composed of, among others, former and current service users.

Dr Said hoped that after the public consultation period and once the standards receive the necessary tweaking, they will be brought into force at beginning of next year.

The standards, he said, will not impinge on the autonomy of residential homes but will encourage the coordination of the different services offered by Sedqa and non-governmental organisations.

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