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Expenditure of compensation from legal claims in an opiate dependent population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Dermot P Cohen ,
Helen Barry ,
Emma Unoh  and
John J O'Connor
Dermot P Cohen*
Affiliation:
Drug Treatment Centre Board
John J O'Connor
Affiliation:
Drug Treatment Centre Board, Trinity Court, 30-31 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: dermotcohen@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study examined the expenditure of compensation received from legal claims by service users attending an outpatient methadone programme in Dublin. Most claims (n = 62) were as a result of road traffic accidents (74%) or personal injury (15%). There were 28 reports of claims resulting in payment of compensation totalling €912,871. Of the compensation not placed in trust (€477,871), almost 40% was spent on drugs and 8% on alcohol. Of those who reported no drug misuse at the time of the compensation being paid, seven out of 11 (64%) reported subsequently spending a significant amount on substance misuse.

The risks of receiving large amounts of money in this population are substantial and include initiation and exacerbation of substance misuse, and risk of overdose. Alternative ways of managing the payment of compensation should be considered for this vulnerable population.

Keywords

Opiate dependenceCompensationSubstance abuse
Type
Brief Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 141 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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