Derry to get drug addiction clinic

A drugs detox centre is to open in Londonderry before the end of the year.

Planning permission has been granted, in principle, to the Northlands Centre for a 26-bed treatment unit.

The Western Health Trust currently funds a number of beds in Northlands, but the nearest dedicated treatment facility is in Omagh.

The centre, if fully approved, will be on land near the Foyle Hospice. Last week the Western Trust was criticised over lack of provisions in the area.

The parents of Emmet McFadden, who died suddenly last Wednesday, blamed drugs for his death and called for the provision of more treatment facilities in the west.

The head of addiction services in the Western Trust, Yvonne McWhirter, rejected the claims saying that while further investment would be welcome, there was adequate provision.

Northlands is a community-based, independent treatment centre, which treats people with addiction problems.

Dennis Bradley, a consultant, with the centre said they wanted to provide 16 residential beds and 10 detoxification beds in the new facility.