Ivor Callely
Ceist:69 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the likely risks to general practitioners who may consider treating drug addicts in their surgeries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20085/96]
Written Answers. - Treatment of Drug Addicts.
Limerick East): There is an agreed protocol for the prescribing of methadone by general practitioners whereby addicts who have been stabilised in a drug treatment centre are referred to a general practitioner — preferably their own family doctor — for ongoing methadone maintenance. Addicts who do not abide by the protocol can be referred back to the centre. I am satisfied that the risks to general practitioners in these situations are minimal and the experience to date would bear this out. A number of practitioners have been treating addicts outside of the protocol and I am aware that a number of these doctors have been attacked from time to time. This problem can best be overcome by a greater number of doctors becoming involved in the protocol so that each doctor will only have a small number of addicts on his or her list. This minimises the risks to the doctors themselves and avoids disturbance to the practice in general.