Vol. 496 No. 7
75 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the international discussions, if any, his Department has had regarding the use of the drug, rohypnol; the further steps, if any, he will take to regulate its use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20259/98]
Flunitrazepam, which is the active ingredient in Rohypnol, and its preparations, have been classified as Schedule 3 controlled drugs, under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, since 1993. The drug was reclassified in this country in 1993 in response to various reports of misuse and, as a result, unauthorised possession became an offence and it has been made more difficult for drug misusers to gain access to it.
Doctors prescribing Rohypnol must comply with the special prescription writing requirements as set out in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 1988. Furthermore, persons, such as doctors and pharmacists, having the drug in their lawful possession must keep it in safe custody in accordance with requirements of the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations, 1982. My Department keeps up to date on international developments regarding the use and misuse of rohypnol. For example, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe, on which my Department is represented, set up a Group of Experts in Epidemiology to consider what activities might contribute to improving the understanding of the epidemiology of illicit benzodiazepine use and improving the effectiveness of monitoring activities in this area. The group observed that the abuse of sedative-hypnotics often involves several benzodiazepines, not just rohypnol. I also understand that the manufacturers of rohypnol have taken certain steps to ensure that rohypnol is detectable where it is covertly administered to an individual's drink.
The main group who misuse rohypnol are injecting opiate users. Experts in the Eastern Health Board working with doctors dealing with this group advise that doctors should not prescribe the drug to opiate misusers because of the potential for its misuse. As the Deputy will be aware the prescribing and dispensing of methadone recently became subject to stricter control arising from the introduction of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations, 1998. My Department will be monitoring the prescribing of other controlled drugs to ensure that they are not subject to abuse.
