Vol. 462 No. 8
213 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice whether the methadone maintenance programme is considered to be effective in reducing crime; and the percentage of offenders who have previously been on a methadone maintenance programme prior to their committal to prison. [5684/96]
Methadone is a synthetic heroin substitute prescribed as a means of replacing dependence on illegal drug taking. It is used widely in detoxification of addicts and also on a long-term maintenance basis with addicts whose dependence is very advanced.
Methadone maintenance is a recognised treatment strategy which is widely applied as a harm reduction mechanism for serious drug addicts. International studies have shown that one of the beneficial consequences for individual offenders suffering from drug dependency who achieve stability through a course of methadone, has been to reduce their motivation to commit further crime in order to feed the habit. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that the availability of maintenance plays a significant role in reducing the level of drug related crime in the wider community. I am not aware of any Irish study in this respect but there is no reason to believe the crime reduction impact should be any less here. In the light of my information about the positive impact of this treatment approach, I particularly welcome the recent announcement by the Minister for Health of his plans for a major expansion in community based services, including methadone maintenance, for addicts.
As part of the preparation for the new drug treatment programme, which is being put in place at Mountjoy Prison, an informal survey was carried out on the drug background of committals there over a four week period. The data from this survey is still being collated. Preliminary indications are that a very small proportion, possibly less than five per cent, of committals questioned had previously availed of a course of methadone maintenance in the community. My policy will be to continue methadone maintenance in prison for addicts where the medical advice is that this is appropriate and to provide humane detoxification in all other cases.
