The Government's campaign to cut drug addict numbers is stalled and must be "completely" overhauled, Sinn Féin has declared.
Illegal drug use, particularly that of cocaine, is once again rising, while serious concerns exist about the effectiveness of methadone programmes, it said.
Sinn Féin Dublin South Central TD, Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh said: "There is a widespread perception on the ground that the National Drugs Strategy is stalled."
Official Government figures show the number of methadone places available stood at 6,883, up from 5,000 in 2000 and 1,350 in the mid-1990s.
In a submission to the National Drugs Strategy Review, Sinn Féin warned that "crack cocaine" use would spiral out of control unless urgent action is taken now. "Undoubtedly, the drugs barons' business is booming. In contrast, the Government and community response is losing momentum. We need more effective police action that will take major drug traffickers off the streets and end their illegal trade," said Sinn Féin.
Small-time dealers, who are themselves addicts, should be put onto treatment programmes rather than being jailed, or discharged by the courts.
Centres for addicts, such as Merchant's Quay in Dublin, should operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help prevent overdoses.
Despite the level of demand, just 200 "detox" beds exist in the Republic, even though residential treatment is known to be the most effective.
Female addicts must be given extra help: "Many women are not accessing drug-treatment services for fear of their children being taken from them by the authorities.
"The lack of residential places for women-only, or for women with children is a big gap in current services. This needs to be recognised and changed," said the party.
Drug addicts' families must be given greater help: "The best interests of children whose parents are unable to care for them properly due to problem drug use are usually served by living with their extended family where this is an option.
"To qualify for financial assistance, however, family members must declare the child or children abandoned or orphaned by the drug using parent, or parents.
"This requirement is not reasonable, and the present system also is too discretionary," said Dublin Sinn Féin, which argued for temporary social welfare for families in such situations.
British medical experience has shown that 21 per cent of drug addicts first injected while in prison and that needle exchange programmes cut HIV transmission rates.
Special anti-drugs teams must be set up to reach new immigrants, backed up by information leaflets printed in Russian, Chinese and other languages.
Cuts in the Community Employment Scheme must be reversed and the scheme should be used to hire drugs staff in working-class communities, said the party.
