Vol. 473 No. 1
33 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health if he will make provision for meaningful treatment of drug addicts in provincial centres in view of the fact that the current facilities seem to be totally inadequate; and if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford. [21599/96]
Limerick East): The provision of treatment services for drug misusers is a matter for the regional health boards in the first instance. Apart from the Eastern Health Board area, where there are waiting lists for treatment, all other health boards have adequate facilities for the treatment of drug misuse.
Treatment may be provided on an out-patient or an in-patient basis, depending on the clincial assessment. In the case of the person referred to by the Deputy, the South-Eastern Health Board has informed my Department that he has treated for his drug addiction as an in-patient in Waterford Regional Hospital, but discharged himself before completion of the programme. He was subsequently referred to out-patient services, but has maintained only occasional contact, despite ongoing offers of service.
I understand that, in addition, this person had been in receipt of methadone treatment from a general practitioner in the Eastern Health Board area. He was also assessed in the Drug Treatment Centre, Trinity Court, Pearse Street and admitted to Beaumont Hospital Detoxification Unit in January 1996, but discharged himself against medical advice. On the advice of the psychiatric services in Waterford the South-Eastern Health Board is not prepared to provide financial support for in-patient treatment in a private facility in this case, in the light of non-compliance and non-completion of the services provided by the health board.
