Vol. 503 No. 5
29 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the applicability to Ireland on the recently published UN report on drug use, with particular reference to the applicability of its findings to Ireland in regard to overuse of legal tranquillisers and legal stimulants. [6612/99]
The Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1998 noted that there has been a significant increase in the use of legal tranquillisers and legal stimulants among the 152 States that are parties to the UN's 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The prescribing and consumption of these drugs depends on the clinical judgment of doctors, who determine that such drugs are required for the treatment of specific medically diagnosed symptoms. The board advised Governments who have recorded high levels of consumption of these drugs "to raise the awareness of medical practitioners to the need to use such substances in a more rational manner".
In common with a number of other countries the use of tranquillisers and stimulants has increased over the years in Ireland. In some cases, this is due to the introduction of new medicines which have proven effective in the treatment of severe pain and other ailments. I am aware, however, that in some cases there has been a concern about over-prescribing of certain controlled drugs. Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984 I have the authority to curtail or prohibit the prescribing or supply of controlled drugs by medical practitioners or pharmacists, where a need for such curtailment or prohibition is indicated.
As a result of the board's report my Department will be writing to all general practitioners in the near future to advise them of the need for caution in the prescribing of controlled drugs, with particular reference to tranquillisers and stimulants.
