Ruairí Quinn
Question:24 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of heroin addicts receiving treatment within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11044/98]
Vol. 492 No. 4
24 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of heroin addicts receiving treatment within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11044/98]
The most recent year for which statistics are available on all persons being treated for opiate misuse is 1996, where the Health Research Board, in its National Report for Treated Drug Misuse, reported that of the total of 4,865 drug misusers being treated nationally, 3,827 cases — 79 per cent were opiate misusers. At present there are 3,150 persons listed on the central methadone treatment list. This represents the total number of people being treated with methadone for opiate addition through Eastern Health Board clinics and by general practitioners.