asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated for drug abuse in each of the health board hospitals in each of the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Abuse.
14.
I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not yet available in respect of all health board hospitals. However, practically all persons treated for drug abuse are dealt with by the psychiatric services or by the drug advisory and treatment service at Jervis Street Hospital, Dublin. There is an arrangement under which cases of addiction coming to the notice of these services are notified to my Department. The numbers notified for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 were 159, 268 and 252 respectively. Comprehensive statistics are not as yet available for 1973.
The numbers given represent all cases coming to notice—not just those treated in health board hospitals.