Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 5

Written Answers. - Prescription Drugs.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

147 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concern among medical professionals and communities seriously affected by drug abuse about the widespread availability of benzodiazepines and the central role which these have in all drug addiction; the plans, if any, he has to introduce protocols to cover the prescribing of benzodiazepines in order to restrict their use and curb their availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12309/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Benzodiazepines are controlled drugs, tranquillisers, which are only available on prescription from medical practitioners. They are prescribed to help people cope with the distress caused by insomnia, anxiety, panic, epilepsy, muscle spasms and pre-surgical stress. I am aware that concerns have been raised about the inappropriate prescribing of these drugs to opiate misusers by a small number of general practitioners.

As part of an external review of drug services for the Eastern Health Board, which was carried out in 1999, an analysis was made over a four month period of urine tests in five of the board's drug treatment clinics. This analysis showed that over that period 65% of the clients attending the clinics tested positive for benzodiazepines.

The Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations, 1998, had a major impact on limiting the availability of methadone on the illicit market. The situation regarding benzodiazepines is, however, not as clearcut as for methadone. Even in health board treatment clinics benzodiazepines may be legitimately prescribed to drug misusers, so there is an issue around determining clinical guidelines for management of drug misusers and appropriate dosages of various medications.

My Department's officials have written to all general practitioners on a number of occasions concerning the need for them to exercise caution when prescribing controlled drugs, including benzodiazepines. In the most recent letter, 30 August 1999, from my Department's chief medical officer to all general practitioners, he advised doctors to contact health board GP co-ordinators on best clinical practice in relation to treatment of opiate misusers, and he gave contact names and telephone numbers where assistance could be obtained. Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, of course, 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.

My Department is in the process of establishing a committee to examine benzodiazepine prescribing which will make recommendations on how misuse of these drugs can be reduced or eliminated.