Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 7

Written Answers. - Detoxification Treatment.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

140 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the new rapid opiate detoxification system operating at the London Welback Hospital; his views on this system; and if it will be introduced on a pilot basis here. [22153/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The provision of detoxification treatment for drug misusers is a matter for health boards in the first instance.

The Eastern Health Board, which provides detoxification on both an in-patient and out-patient basis is aware of the detoxification system, which operates at the London Welback Hospital. It has been invited to examine the system and representatives from the board intend to visit the hospital at an early stage to see if the system would be appropriate to the needs of the Eastern Health Board and to establish how detoxification outcomes from the system compare with outcomes from other methods of detoxification.