Vol. 427 No. 7
134 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the number of admissions to acute psychiatric hospitals and acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals for the treatment of (a) alcoholism and (b) drug addiction for each of the years 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992; and if he will give a percentage of these admissions in comparison to the total overall number of admissions.
Information relating to the number of admissions to acute psychiatric hospitals and acute psychiatric units attached to general hospitals is compiled on an annual basis by the Health Research Board on behalf of my Department. The latest year for which information is available is in respect of the year ended 31 December 1989. The number of admissions in relation to 1989 is as follows: Alcoholism, 6,608; Drug Addiction, 193.
In 1989 there were 27,250 admissions to psychiatric hospitals and units attached to general hospitals of which 24 per cent were for alcoholism and 0.7 per cent for drug addiction.
