Vol. 460 No. 3
177 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if the waiting period for nonHIV drug users seeking treatment for hard drug addiction at the city clinic, Amiens Street, Dublin 1, is in the region of two and a half years. [1146/96]
Limerick East): Services for drug misusers are provided at the city clinic, Amiens Street by the Eastern Health Board. I understand from the board that there is no standard waiting time for people awaiting treatment at the clinic. Persons on the waiting list are prioritised based on individual clinical assessment of their medical condition and this determines their position on the waiting list. People with AIDS or who are HIV positive generally receive a higher priority on the list because of the more serious nature of their medical condition.
In line with the Government strategy to prevent drug misuse the Eastern Health Board continues to develop a comprehensive network of treatment services for drug misusers. The objective in developing these services is to provide treatment for those who need them and thus eliminate the waiting lists which currently exist. A major component of the plan to eliminate these waiting lists is the continued establishment of community drug centres in local areas where the need for these centres has been identified.
