asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to act upon the recommendations contained in the Report of the Working Party on Drug Abuse.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
19.
asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to implement the final recommendations of the Working Party on Drug Abuse.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
Two sets of recommendations are referred to in the report of the Working Party on Drug Abuse—those summarised at pages 55 to 58 of the report and certain recommendations which the working party submitted to me in September, 1969, in regard to matters on which they considered that action need not and should not be delayed pending completion of their deliberations; these recommendations are referred to at page nine of the report and are appended to the report on page 75.
The recommendations summarised on pages 55 to 58 of their report are of a comprehensive nature and their implementation concerns not alone my Department but also a number of other Government Departments as well as other bodies. Consequently I am not in a position at this stage to indicate when the recommendations as a whole will be implemented. As far as I am concerned I am anxious that there should be no avoidable delay in dealing with the recommendations and my Department are already in consultation with the other Government Departments concerned.
However, I had already taken prompt action regarding the recommendations submitted to me in September, 1969, and the following is a summary of the main measures taken:—
(a) In December, 1969, I introduced regulations for the control of amphetamines, after consultation with the medical profession and pharmaceutical interests concerned. The regulations prohibit generally the manufacture, importation, sale and distribution of amphetamines and preparations containing such substances. Since the implementation of these controls the abuse of amphetamines has ceased to be a problem.
(b) The Health (Possession of Controlled Substances) Regulations which I made under section 78 of the Health Act, 1970 in May, 1970 made the unauthorised possession of certain classes of drugs not covered by the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1934, for example, amphetamines, barbiturates and LSD, a punishable offence. These controls enabled the Garda to deal more effectively with drug offenders. The controls are intended as an interim measure pending the enactment of legislation containing more comprehensive provision for the control of drug abuse which is at present in course of preparation.
(c) Additional personnel (including a Ban Garda) were assigned to the Drug Squad.
(d) Special measures were taken by my Department to alert health authorities, drug manufacturers, wholesale and retail chemists, hospitals, et cetera, regarding the need for stringent security against drug thefts. These measures appear to have been successful and thefts of drugs are not generally a significant problem at present.
(e) The measures to combat the smuggling of drugs have been intensified following consultation between my Department and other Government Departments concerned. This matter remains under constant review.
(f) My Department arranged for the issue of special notices, through the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to all retail pharmacists alerting them regarding forged prescriptions and suggesting the steps which might be taken where prescriptions presented to them for dispensing were suspected of being forged. Arrangements were also made to alert doctors through their medical journals as to the danger of forged prescriptions.
(g) In addition to the out-patient advisory and treatment centre provided at Jervis Street Hospital, a special "closed" residential unit is being made available by the Eastern Health Board for the treatment of persons dependent on drugs. The board also propose to use new premises at Usher's Island as an adolescent centre which will include services for drug abusers who can be treated in an "open" environment.
May I ask if any correspondence exists between the Department of Health and the equivalent Minister in Britain in view of the fact that there is some smuggling of amphetamines? On the question of the new centre at Island Street, has a director been appointed yet? Is there provision for hostels for those seeking rehabilitation?
I have given the Deputy all the information I have. Any other matters to which he referred are being examined. We are in touch with all the information available on this problem from all sources. I might remind the Deputy that the conditions are not the same here as elsewhere because drug abuse is not as great. We are in touch with the World Health Organisation and we have received information from American and British sources. We have also had information from those who have been in charge of drug abuse in the north.
Is the Minister aware that this drug problem is escalating at an enormous pace and that we have not enough personnel to control it? Is he aware that people going to the pop festival in Sligo in buses and trains were smoking pot? Is he aware that pushers in Dublin hired a bus to go there? Is he further aware that certain doctors are making very harmful statements by saying that marijuana is not harmful?
I cannot prevent doctors from expressing their individual opinions on any matter. In Sligo the Garda Síochána took whatever action they thought advisable. The Deputy must have seen the newspapers. I want to make it quite clear that dangerous drug abuse here is still minimal by comparison with other countries. Alcoholism is a much more serious problem and I should like to hear more about that from Deputies.
Might I repeat my question as to whether the director for Island Street has been appointed?
I am not sure.