asked the Minister for Health whether his Department is maintaining any satistical index of the incidence of drug addiction amongst various age groups; and whether, in his Department's opinion, there has been any significant increase in the number of young people considered to be addicted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drug Addiction.
10.
A record is being maintained of notifications sent by psychiatrists throughout the country to my Department of cases of drug dependence or drug abuse coming to their notice. A summary of such notifications for the year 1970 was included in the recently published report of the working party on drug abuse. 1970 was the first completed year in which the notification system operated and accordingly comparisons with earlier years are not possible.
Returns received so far this year show increased numbers. Most of these returns relate to one centre and the position is being examined to determine the extent to which the variation in numbers is caused by a real increase in incidence or improved reporting arrangements. I shall communicate further with the Deputy as soon as possible.
Is this a drug register?
It is a report on drug abuse. It is impossible to know how far this is improved reporting and how far it represents an increase in drug abuse. As I have pointed out to the Dáil, no matter what I do to deal with drug abuse I do not anticipate, any more than any other Minister for Health in the world, containing the problem. It may grow simply through sociological circumstances, and all I can do is to limit it in so far as I have power through the provision of services to do so.
The Minister appears to have a very fatalistic attitude in the matter.