Drug addicts will be given an opportunity to break their addiction with the help of state doctors and psychologists, the Health Ministry said yesterday as part of a new initiative to reduce waiting lists at private clinics.

Some 5,000 addicts are currently waiting to be treated at the 25 clinics run by the Organization Against Drugs (OKANA), which is the only body that treats drug users in Greece. The clinics are mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki, which means that in areas such as Thrace, Epirus and the Peloponnese there is no specialized treatment available for addicts.

It was announced at a medical conference in Thessaloniki yesterday that the government, in an effort to provide treatment for users through the National Health System, will set up departments at state hospitals with expert staff to look after addicts and provide them with substitutes to wean them off their addiction.

It is not clear how many of these clinics will be set up and when they will begin accepting addicts.