Drug addicts trying to kick their habit are being turned away from the Island's only methadone clinic -- because it cannot cope with a massive increase in the number of new patients.

But health chiefs say alternative medications -- prescribed to fend off the physical cravings of cold turkey -- are still available on other programmes.

The Addiction Services Centre on Victoria Street, Hamilton, runs a methadone prescription programme for up to 50 drug abusers, along with counselling and other services.

But, following a Police crackdown on alleged street drug dealers in the summer, the centre has been swamped with new patients. It is already treating 55 patients and has a further ten on a waiting list.

Addiction Services coordinator Bryant Richards said: "I think Operation Cleansweep has had a lot to do with the increase in demand.

"Once the ripple goes out people start thinking about going to get some help before they get caught on the street.

"But these things are cyclic and we feel it's better to provide a service for a smaller number of people rather than try and treat everyone and end up giving them nothing.

"We also have to make the point that methadone isn't the only way of treating addicts. There are people who walk through this door who won't be put on the methadone programme because it's not a suitable treatment.

"There are other medications from other programmes that deal with the physical cravings of coming off drugs and I would urge anyone who genuinely wants to come off drugs to still seek help. There are always alternatives.'' Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann told The Royal Gazette : "From time to time this problem does arise but it's not always possible in a small community to have all the resources available seven days a week 52 weeks of the year. We don't have a pool of people that we can pull from.''