asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, which has been made to date in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Drug Abuse, which reported in 1984; the level of heroin addiction and abuse of other drugs such as cannabis and amphetamines in the Dublin area; if the level is rising or falling; the number of deaths from heroin addiction for each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Drug Abuse Prevention Programme.
27.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 19 June 1986 which outlined the steps which had been taken to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Drug Abuse at that time. The following is an outline of the progress which has been made in this area since then:—
The Health Education Bureau, in conjunction with the Department of Education, is in the process of developing a Drug Education Resource Pack for Post-Primary Schools. They hope to pilot-test this new pack for schools during the current year and that it will be accepted as more specific drug-related material and be taught in the context of general health education in schools.
The Department of Education, the Health Education Bureau and the Mater Dei Institute have organised a further summer course for teachers on Drug Education to be held in July of this year.
The Health Education Bureau also expects to launch a new pack "Drug Questions — Local Answers?" this year, which is a programme of inter-disciplinary training for people working in local communities which seeks to encourage community-based responses to local drug problems.
In relation to treatment services, agreement has been reached on the purchase of a property for a new walk-in out-patient drug treatment facility in the inner-city area of Dublin and the contract for these premises was signed recently.
My Department, on the recommendation of the National Co-ordinating Committee on Drug Abuse, published a "Directory of Organisations concerned with Substance Abuse" to assist substance abusers and those who come into contact with them, to explain what services are available and how contact may be made with them. Copies of this directory were circulated to all of the agencies listed therein.
My Department also circulated to all doctors and pharmacists in the country, a document outlining the recommendations from the Medical Council on the Prescribing of Controlled Drugs, for the purpose of assisting them in relation to the prescribing and dispensing of such drugs.
Because of the nature of the drug problem it is very difficult to compile reliable statistics on the number of drug addicts. However, the statistics provided by the Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre in Jervis Street, and which are given in the table circulated in the Official Report, show that the numbers presenting for treatment of heroin, cannabis and amphetamine abuse have dropped in recent years.
Accurate comprehensive information on drug-related deaths is difficult to obtain because drug-addicts suffer from various afflictions. The Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre and the Garda Drug Squad compile an annual list of deaths of drug users known to them. The number of drug deaths in Dublin established by this procedure were: nine persons in 1982, 12 persons in 1983, 13 persons in 1984, 12 persons in 1985 and nine persons in 1986.
I believe that the treatment statistics, in particular, are encouraging. However, because intravenous drug abuse poses such a serious problem in the context of the spread of the AIDS virus it is now more important than ever that we maintain the momentum in our efforts to reduce the incidence of drug abuse.
I can assure the Deputy that this momentum and impetus will be maintained.
TABLE
|
Drugs of Abuse |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
|
Heroin |
1,006 |
969 |
798 |
646 |
|
Amphetamine |
27 |
24 |
29 |
24 |
|
Cannabis |
143 |
161 |
138 |
53 |