A study has indicated that the number of people abusing heroin in Dublin has dropped by over 1,000 since 1996.
The study by the national advisory committee on drugs indicates just over 12,450 people in the capital were using drugs in 2001, compared to just over 13,460 in 1996.
The number of heroin abusers outside of Dublin is still high with more than 2,000 people using the drug.
This is the first time that heroin abuse has been surveyed outside of Dublin.
It shows the highest number of abusers is in the Eastern Regional Health Authority counties of Wicklow and Kildare.
The Dublin figures are being compared to a study carried out in 1996 and showed that the number of young people getting involved in heroin abuse is down.
The Minister of State for Drugs Strategy welcomed the decrease in the Dublin area.
However, Noel Ahern said with 2,000 users outside Dublin there was no room for complacency in tackling the problem.
