Brian Lenihan
Ceist:79 Mr. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health the number of places for the detoxification of minors who are habitual non-injection drug abusers. [9231/96]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.
Limerick East): The provision of drug treatment services is a matter for the health boards in the first instance.
Detoxification services can be provided to drug misusers on an inpatient or an outpatient basis. Inpatient detoxification beds are not specifically designated to adults or to minors, but are allocated on the basis of medical need. There is no distinction made by the drug treatment services between non-injecting and injecting drug misusers in regard to the provision of detoxification facilities.
There are 20 impatient detoxification beds — ten in Beaumont Hospital and ten, to be increased in June to 15, in Cherry Orchard Hospital. Inpatient detoxification facilities are also provided in a number of health board psychiatric hospitals.
Outpatient detoxification facilities are available through the four drug treatment clinics in Dublin, in some psychiatric hospitals and, in some instances, through general practitioners.