973 recovering addicts treated with methadone last year

973 people were treated with methadone, the drug used to reduce withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts, last year.

The information was revealed by social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia in response to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Claudio Grech.

The majority of these patients, 455, were aged between 30 and 39. Two of them were 19 or younger, while 194 were aged between 20 and 29.

Moreover, 248 patients were aged between 40 and 49, while 62 were aged between 50 and 59, and a further 12 older than 60.