I welcome the Minister to the House. I am seeking information in order to determine the policy of his Department in relation to ultra rapid opiate detoxification in which opiate addicts are detoxified through use of the drug Naltrexone. The effect is that under general anaesthetic the drug has the effect of supplanting the narcotics in the brain and nervous system. This brings the addiction to an end in four to six or seven hours. This results in a lot of misery and withdrawal symptoms which means people may not be able to continue to be detoxified or to kick the habit. The first-long term study conducted in October 1988 by the American Psychiatric Association on 120 patients over a six month period found that 55% remained drug free after the treatment. This compares sharply with the normal course of treatment of physeptone or other substitute, such as cold turkey, used under the present system which has in the region of a 10% to 20% success rate.
This issue concerns a number of community groups in the north side of the city, particularly the Dublin 7 against drugs group which organised a major conference at the end of last year. It invited speakers from Britain, the Department of Health and Children and so on and tried to establish the policy of the Eastern Health Board and other health boards in relation to the use of the drugs and whether the drug Naltrexone would be developed on a pilot basis. A number of countries, including Britain, Spain, Switzerland, the United States and Canada are using the drug.
The drug seems to have considerable benefits for pregnant women in particular. The unborn child would benefit from the treatment because, as I understand it, the mother would, as a whole person, be detoxified under the influence of the drug. It seems to me that one of our clinics, perhaps Cherry Orchard or elsewhere, would be a suitable place for conducting a pilot scheme to see whether the drug would be successful. It could be a test period for Ireland. There have been developments since the last conference took place but I want to determine whether the Government is looking seriously at this option. If so, in what capacity and, if not, why not, given that it is operating on a fairly regular basis in other countries that have stringent health regulations and would not do so without having carried out tests and surveys.
