Dick Spring
Question:41 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the provision on methadone maintenance programmes within prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11567/99]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.
Methadone maintenance is an important element in the package of treatment options made available by the Eastern Health Board to drug addict patients. In so far as the prison system is concerned, my Department has an agreed medical policy with the EHB which seeks to provide the same access to treatment for drug addicted prisoners as patients have in the community. I have recently approved a draft action plan on drug misuse and drug treatment in the prison system which builds on the medical policy agreed with the EHB. The action plan includes increased provision of methadone maintenance primarily to prisoners who on committal are already on a medically supervised methadone maintenance programme.
At present, a small number of prisoners may avail of methadone maintenance while serving their sentences. These prisoners are availing of treatment for HIV infection in the medical unit in Mountjoy and methadone maintenance forms an important part of this treatment. Otherwise all prisoners who show evidence of recent opiate abuse on committal to Mountjoy Prison or St Patrick's Institution are offered a medically supervised detoxification course which involves decreasing doses of methadone over a 14 day period. This regime may be altered where there are clinical indications that this is needed, e.g. HIV positive prisoners and pregnant female prisoners.