STORMONT must do more to tackle addiction and homelessness, it has been warned, following a sixth drug overdose death in Belfast in two weeks.
The six people were all young men and members of the city's homeless community.
Among the latest to lose his life was former mental health worker Patrick McIlroy, who died last week aged 27.
His family has called for more services to be offered to curb addiction, while a group working with homeless people in the city has also criticised the lack of support from Stormont for those living on the streets.
In recent years, the number of drug deaths has soared in the north, with data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency showing 2020 had 218 drug fatalities - more than double the figure of 10 years previously.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Liz Rocks of Belfast Homeless Services, hit out at what little help is available for young people in difficult circumstances.
"There's a lack of support and a lack of rehab in this country," she said.
Speaking of the recent deaths, she said "all these young men used our services," adding that Stormont politicians should be "ashamed" of the lack of wider support.
"Our country is in a mess with homelessness...with addiction and mental health, and somebody needs to do something," she added.
Meanwhile, Patrick McIlroy's cousin Martina McIlroy, told UTV that Stormont should consider a "secure unit for addiction and mental health".
She added that more must be done to tackle drug dealers supplying substances like heroin to homeless people.
"Then we can work with our addicts and our young people suffering with mental health," she said.
In a statement from the Department of Health, minister Robin Swann said it had launched new strategies to deal with the issues.
"The treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use problems, frequently called 'dual diagnosis', is an issue that was raised prominently during the development of both the new Substance Use and Mental Health Strategies," he said.
"I believe that close working, training and a managed care network is the optimum route to embed a 'no wrong door' approach. The aim being that those with mental health and addiction issues will get the best care and treatment available.
"Work is now underway on the implementation of the two strategies, however full implementation of both frameworks is dependent on provision and availability of additional funding."