Vol. 495 No. 4
215 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of places in residential care where persons overcoming addiction to hard drugs, including heroin, can undergo programmes of rehabilitation that would be required to allow all those currently addicted to these substances to recover to the extent of being able to live ordinary lives in their communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20024/98]
The main treatment option for drug misuse is treatment on an out-patient basis, with support from local counselling and community-based groups for both the drug misuser and family members, as a major part of rehabilitation involves enabling the drug misuser to adapt to a drug-free lifestyle and engage in routine activities in their own community.
When residential care is clinically indicated, the services of agencies working in this area are contracted by health boards, using the ongoing funding which is provided to them by my Department for the provision of drugs services.
In the Eastern Health Board, where the majority of drug misusers reside, in-patient detoxification facilities are provided in Cuan Dara at Cherry Orchard Hospital and Beaumont Hospital, where a total of 27 beds are provided for this purpose. In addition, "downstream" detoxification facilities are provided by Merchants Quay Project at High Park, Drumcondra, where further rehabilitiation and support are given to recovering drug misusers. This facility provides places for 12 persons at any one time.
The Eastern Health Board is in the process of providing further downstream detoxification facilities in its area. It is also expanding out-patient rehabilitation programmes through projects such as SAOL and SOILSE. In addition, the integrated plans of the 13 drugs task forces, for which funding was provided, include initiatives on rehabilitation and training for people in the areas worst affected by the drug problem.
