Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Ivor Callely

Question:

96 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with methadone treatment protocols; the cost of dispensing consultations and treatment associated with methadone in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18398/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Heroin addiction is a chronic relapsing condition.

A variety of treatments, including methadone maintenance, are available to drug misusers.

However, methadone maintenance is the most evaluated and validated form of treatment in the management of heroin addiction at an international level. Methadone treatment is provided by general practitioners in their surgeries and in addiction centres, satellite clinics or through a mobile clinic. The total number of clients registered on the central treatment list who are currently on methadone is 4,001. This comprises of a total of 2,863 clients for which the Eastern Health Board has provided treatment places at 51 treatment locations. A total of 1,138 clients are being treated by general practitioners.

The Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations which came into place on l July 1998 allow for tighter control on the prescribing and dispensing of methadone. Since that date additional general practitioners and pharmacists were attracted to participate and to provide treatment for drug misusers locally in their own area. A total number of 42 general practitioners and 190 pharmacists participate in the scheme. All details of patients for whom methadone is being prescribed must now be entered on a central treatment list which is managed and monitored by the Eastern Health Board.

General practitioner co-ordinators are active in recruiting and training general practitioners in the community. The Irish College of General Practitioners provides training for general practitioners and, in addition, the Eastern Health Board has an input into a course in Trinity College for pharmacy training.

Since the implementation of the methadone protocol, the availability of methadone has been strictly controlled. The protocol has also identified drug misusers who were previously unknown to the services and has strictly limited the number of drug misusers who may receive treatment from any one individual general practitioner. I am satisfied that the introduction of the methadone protocol has significantly improved controls over the availability of methadone and has been effective in extending the number of treatment options available for drug misusers.

The cost of providing methadone through general practitioners and pharmacists – including fees – in 1999 to date is £2.016 million. It is difficult to be precise about the cost of providing methadone maintenance through addiction centres and satellite clinics, since the overall cost of running such clinics and centres would include other services such as counselling, HIV testing, urinalysis, etc. I will, however, ask the Eastern Health Board to supply such information as is available to the Deputy.