Vol. 567 No. 5
81 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the actions he intends to take following the recent report from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs on the prevalence of opiate abuse here; the strategy he intends to adopt; and the changes he will make to the national drugs strategy as a result. [14521/03]
The National Advisory Committee on Drugs, for which my Department has responsibility, recently published a study on the prevalence of opiate misuse in Ireland. The estimate is based on statistics provided by three data sources for 2001 – the central drug treatment list, the national Garda study on drugs, crime and related activity and the hospital in-patient inquiry database. The Deputy should note that this is the first formal estimate of the number of opiate users undertaken since the 1996 study carried out by Dr. Catherine Comiskey, which used the same methodology. However, it is important to point out that the 1996 study estimated prevalence for Dublin only.
The latest study estimates that there were 14,452 people using opiates in Ireland in 2001. The estimated figure for Dublin is 12,456 compared to the 1996 figure of 13,461. The Deputy will agree that the drop in prevalence figures in Dublin is encouraging, as is the finding that the numbers of users in the 15 to 24 age bracket has reduced substantially, which may point to a lower rate of initiation into heroin misuse. Since 1996 the availability of treatment for opiate dependence has increased very significantly and this may be a factor in explaining the latest estimates. For example, there were 1,350 places available on the central methadone treatment list at the start of 1996 compared to the current figure of approximately 6,600.
As I said at the time of the launch of the NACD study, while many of the study's findings are encouraging, we cannot afford any degree of complacency. The Government remains committed to working in partnership with the communities most affected by drug misuse and the continued implementation of the 100 actions set out in the national drugs strategy remains a priority. I do not feel that any change in direction in the strategy is warranted as a result of this report. However, as the Deputy will be aware, the strategy provides for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall framework by the end of 2004. This will examine the progress being made in achieving the overall key strategic goals set out in the strategy and will enable priorities for further action to be identified and a refocusing of the strategy if necessary.
While I welcome the results of the survey of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, is it not a fact that last week a 16 year old boy was declared by the High Court to be in real danger on the streets of Dublin because there was no temporary place available for him? He was addicted to heroin and needed to go into long-term treatment, but he could not get a place unless he spent two weeks drug-free. The Minister's policy has not provided any place for that young man. Is it not a fact that only 200 residential places are available in the city of Dublin for the 15,000 addicts who live there? What are the Minister of State's comments on this?
I am not sure what case the Deputy is speaking about, but it is true that the main emphasis in the strategy was on providing treatment. When the strategy was being formulated and everybody, including community bodies and statutory agencies, was involved in discussion, the main thrust of the strategy was to get people into methadone treatment. That has been the emphasis of the strategy. At the same time, the strategy calls for a range of other drug-free facilities. The numbers might not be enormous, but we have made huge progress in relation to the main part of the strategy, which was to have treatment provided. Now that we have more or less worked off the backlog, we will be able to give more time and attention to the other, drug-free, options.
I put it to the Minister that there is no space available for people under 18 in respite care. That is a disgrace and it is a shame that the Minister of State's policy in government—
Does the Deputy have a question?
Will the Minister of State comment on the statement by Tony Geoghegan, the director of the Merchant's Quay Project in Dublin, that the Government's policies lack flexibility and vision, that there should be far greater availability of counselling, training, education and other ancillary services for addicts so that they may move beyond their addiction and that placing them on methadone maintenance, while it is extremely welcome, is not enough? Only half of the heroin addicts in Dublin are on methadone treatment. What plans does he have to provide services for the 6,500 who are not on methadone nor receiving any service from his Department?
The strategy is flexible enough to take on board any slight changes that are needed. It is not just about methadone, although that is a central part of the strategy. Training is a very important part of it. Currently, about 1,000 places on community employment schemes are ring-fenced for recovering drug addicts. That is a considerable number, particularly when one considers the pressures under which CE schemes are at the moment. We are dealing with training and that programme is doing a lot of good work.
It is true that many drug addicts are not involved in treatment and that is why our facilities and our strategy have been aimed towards encouraging them into treatment. For a couple of years there was a huge waiting list. Now, although there has been difficulty in one or two parts of the city, the long waiting lists to get into treatment have gone. In the past, drug addicts would inquire about getting into treatment and when there were delays they might drift or lapse before receiving an offer of treatment, but now we are practically up to speed in providing treatment and I hope that in the coming months, more people will seek it.
