Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Jan 1995

Vol. 448 No. 2

Written Answers. - Treatment of Drug Addicts.

Liz O'Donnell

Ceist:

39 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of drug addicts in the country; the waiting list for methadone treatment; the number of general practitioners involved in this programme; the changes, if any, he will make in the scheme to enable more general practitioners to participate so as to reduce the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1685/95]

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

43 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, he has made in eliminating the waiting list for drug users waiting for treatment at City Clinic, Amiens Street, Dublin 1, in view of his predecessor's reply to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 14 April 1994. [1331/95]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

52 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the discussions that have taken place with the Irish Medical Organisation regarding treatment of drug addicts by general practitioners in the community; the common approach that is being made to address drug addiction in the main urban areas such as Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick; the discussions or participation, if any, that the general practitioners had in the recently drafted Methadone Protocol for GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1702/95]

Pat Upton

Ceist:

82 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health the initiatives, if any, he has taken to deal with the problems of drug addiction in Dublin city. [1015/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 43, 52 and 82 together.

There is no accurate figure available for the number of drug misusers in this country. The latest report from the Health Research Board indicates that the estimated number of persons treated for drug misuse in the Greater Dublin Area in 1993 was 2,573 although it is accepted that the number of misusers is considerably in excess of this figure.

The Provision of services for drug misusers in Dublin, including those at the City Clinic, Amiens Street, is a matter for the Eastern Health Board in the first instance.

I understand from the board that, in April, 1994, 90 patients were on methadone maintenance at the City Clinic and that 200 patients were on the waiting list. This figure of 200 was the total number of patients recorded as having sought methadone maintenance at the City Clinic. A number of such patients would also have been on waiting lists at other treatment centres and some others would not have been available to go on a methadone maintenance programme if such became available. Having reviewed the waiting list the Eastern Health Board has indicated that the number of persons actively seeking methadone maintenance is now 95 while the number on maintenance programmes is 127. The satellite clinics operated by the Eastern Health Board at Baggot Street, Ballyfermot and Amiens Street, together with the Drug Treatment Centre in Pearse Street have been very successful in providing comprehensive services for drug misusers and the board proposes to provide additional clinics during 1995. In addition, the services available at some of the existing clinics are to be extended to cater for more patients. In the case of the City Clinic it is intended to provide methadone maintenance in the afternoons, beginning in early February, so that up to 50 additional patients can be accommodated. This should make a substantial impact on the current waiting list.

Funding is being made available to the Eastern Health Board to allow for the provision of three additional satellite clinics in 1995. In addition, the board will be considering the other options available to it in order to provide a service for those who are currently on waiting lists and who are not in receipt of any service. This will include the greater involvement of general practitioners in the provision of methadone maintenance for drug misusers. The report of the Expert Group on a Protocol for Prescribing Methadone will be of considerable help in this regard since it provides the necessary framework of support services which will allow general practitioners to prescribe methadone. Since the intention is that general practitioners will take on the responsibility for drug misusers who have been stabilised at a satellite clinic places should be freed up at the clinics with a consequent reduction in waiting lists.

As I indicated earlier in my reply, the problem of drug abuse arises to the greatest extent in the Dublin area. Outside of Dublin abuse of drugs is on a much lesser scale and there is no evidence to suggest that intravenous drug misuse constitutes a serious problem.

Each health board, however, closely monitors the situation in order to be in a position to deal quickly with problems as they arise. For example, the Southern Health Board recently submitted to my Department a five year strategy to deal with alcohol and drug abuses in its area. This is under consideration and will be discussed with the board shortly.

I wish to assure Deputies that I will be keeping the situation about drug abuse under review to ensure that the services available, both preventive and treatment, provide an effective response to the problem.