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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Nov 1968

Vol. 237 No. 8

Written Answers. - Drug Addiction.

175.

asked the Minister for Health whether his Department are giving any special consideration to the growing practice of drug-taking among young people; and whether he will outline any special steps he intends to take to make drugs less easily available.

There are rigid controls over certain drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1934, and the retail sale of certain other drugs is controlled under the Medical Preparations (Control of Sale) Regulations, 1966, which provide that the drugs covered by the regulations may not be sold to the public by persons other than retail chemists and otherwise than on prescription.

As I indicated in reply to previous questions, I propose to make the unauthorised possession of certain drugs liable to abuse, a punishable offence and I hope to incorporate the necessary statutory provision in the legislation for the improvement of the Health Services which, as I have previously indicated, will be introduced in the present session.

My Department maintains liaison with the Garda and other sources of information regarding the practice of drug-taking, particularly amongst young people in this country and I am in process of setting up a small working party comprising persons with knowledge and experience in this field which I hope may be able to suggest further steps which I might take to deal with the problem.

178.

asked the Minister for Health if he is taking all possible steps to acquaint himself with the incidence of drug addiction in the country.

I take it that the Deputy's question does not relate to drug addiction within the meaning of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945 but rather to the incidence of drug dependence in the wider sense.

My Department obtain details of the number of persons admitted to mental hospitals for treatment of drug addiction each year. In addition certain information regarding drug dependence has been obtained from psychiatrists throughout the country and I propose to make further inquiries on these lines shortly.

I should also hope that the working party to advise me on the problem of drug abuse to which I referred in my reply to the Deputy's earlier question will be in a position to offer further information regarding drug dependence.

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