Vol. 417 No. 5
233 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the recent warning issued to GPs by his Department's chief medical officer on the overprescribing of controlled drugs by a small number of GPs because of the concern that the excess drugs prescribed by GPs are being sold on the streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department's chief medical officer wrote to all general practitioners to remind them of the Medical Council's recommendation that practitioners should not treat patients for addiction problems from outside their practice areas by prescribing controlled drugs. Practitioners are advised to refer such patients to recognised drug treatment centres where back-up laboratory and counselling sevices are provided.
My Department is involved in consideration with the Irish College of General Practitioners and other relevant agencies, of the work of general practitioners as part of the "Community Drug Teams" envisaged under the recently published "Government Strategy to Prevent Drug Misuse". In the course of this strategy it is intended that practitioners will have an important role as part of such teams and consideration is being given to the making available to such practitioners of appropriate training in the treatment of drug abuse.
A concerted effort is being made by my Department with the support of the gardaí to eliminate the problems arising out of the prescribing of controlled drugs to addicts. It is essential that all doctors play their part in addressing the problems.
