asked the Minister for Health if he will list and detail the services provided by each health board to identify, respond and combat drug abuse problems.
381.
Written Answers. - Drug Abuse.
380.
asked the Minister for Health the number of person addicted to drugs in each community care area; and the changes in such numbers that have occurred over the past two years.
There is specific provision under existing mental treatment legislation for the admission of a drug addict as a temporary patient in a district mental hospital and for his/her detention for a maximum period of one year. Facilities for the treatment and care of addicts are available as part of the general services provided for the mentally ill. In 1980, 0.41 per cent of all admissions to psychiatric hospitals were for drug addiction. Almost half of these admissions came from the Eastern Health Board area.
Dublin is the only area in the country which has specialised drug treatment facilities in addition to the services provided at the psychiatric hospitals. These facilities include:
—the Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre at Jervis Street Hospital (including its associated Detoxification Unit at that hospital).
—a counselling service provided by the Eastern Health Board at the Day Centre at Usher's Quay for a small group of young people with drug related problems.
—a provision whereby the courts may order in respect of a person convicted of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, that he/she be detained for a period in a designated custodial treatment centre. The Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, has been designated as a custodial treatment centre for the purpose of the Act.
—rehabilitation services provided by Coolemine Therapeutic Community provided at Coolemine Lodge, Clonsilla, St. Martha's College, Navan, and Lord Edward Street, Dublin.
—outreach and counselling services at the Talbot Day Centre, Sherrard Street, and at Donore Avenue.
—counselling and advisory services which are available to people with drug problems, from the general health and social services such as the Mater Dei Counselling Centre, Samaritans, etc.
Following the recommendations made by the Special Government Task Force on Drug Abuse, my Department will be involved in the provision of:
—a purpose built walk-in treatment facility including a Detoxification Unit at St. James's Hospital to serve South Dublin City and County and Counties Kildare and Wicklow.
—a purpose built out-patient drug centre at Jervis Street Hospital to replace existing accommodation.
Work has recently commenced on the construction of a Youth Development Centre for the Eastern Health Board at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum. The centre will provide accommodation for 31 young disturbed males and females (16-22 years) whose behaviour has resulted in their having difficulties with the law. Such behaviour will include drug-related offences.
The Eastern Health Board is also examining the needs of various communities with a view to establishing counselling and rehabilitative services for young drug abusers in those particular areas.
The Southern Health Board's Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse recently prepared a report relating to these problems, as perceived in the Cork and Kerry area. The committee has made a number of recommendations to treat and combat drug abuse and the board has been requested to submit specific detailed proposals to my Department for consideration.
On the question of the number of persons addicted to drugs in each community care area, I presume that the Deputy is referring to the areas administered by the Eastern Health Board. Unfortunately, my Department does not have this information readily to hand nor was it given enough notice to obtain this information for inclusion in this reply. The Deputy may wish, however, to pursue this matter with the Eastern Health Board.
The only definite statistical information available to my Department relating to drug abuse in Dublin are the attendance figures at the Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre, Jervis Street Hospital, Dublin 1. During the year January-December 1982, 1,307 persons attended the centre, 892 of these were "new" patients, 772 persons abused heroin as against 271 who had abused alcohol and 195 who had abused cannabis. During the year January-December 1983, 1,515 persons attended the centre, 841 of these were "new" patients. One thousand and six persons abused heroin as against 245 who abused alcohol and 143 who abused cannabis.