Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

John Gormley

Ceist:

432 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dublin City coroner revealed in 1998 that abuse of benzodiazepines is now a major cause of death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18509/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers. The research, which was carried out in March 1999, involved the examination of the outcome of the total of 520 inquests which were held during 1998. These inquests related to deaths which occurred between November 1992 and July 1998. The research took account of the coroner's verdicts, toxicology reports and depositional evidence, together with anonymised biographical details.

Of the total number of inquests 108 – 20.76 per cent – were identified as having drugs or alcohol implicated in the death. Twenty eight cases were deemed to have been predominantly alcohol related and were eliminated. A further ten cases were eliminated as suicides or possible suicides. Of the remaining 70 cases benzodiazepines were implicated in 68.5 per cent – 48 – of cases. In a number of cases there was evidence of polydrug use, most commonly a cocktail of heroin and or methadone, benzodiazepines, alcohol and/or cannabis.

The report shows that drug misusers will turn to a range of drugs to feed their habit and that the treatment of such patients needs to be carried out carefully, with appropriate training and with the support of consultants in drug misuse or doctors who have expertise in this area.

Benzodiazepines are controlled drugs which are only available on prescription from medical practitioners. In common with a number of other countries the use of prescription medicines has increased over the years in Ireland. In some cases this is due to the introduction of new medicines which have proven effective in the treatment of severe pain and other ailments. I am aware, however, of concern about over-prescribing of certain controlled drugs. Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, I have the authority to curtail or prohibit the prescribing or supply of controlled drugs by medical practitioners or pharmacists, where a need for such curtailment or prohibition is indicated.

My Department's officials have written to all general practitioners on a number of occasions concerning the need for general practitioners to exercise caution when prescribing controlled drugs. In the most recent letter – 30 August, 1999 – from my Department's chief medical officer to all general practitioners, he points out that a small number of doctors continue to prescribe controlled drugs in an inappropriate fashion to opiate misusers. The letter goes on to advise doctors on best clinical practice in relation to treatment of opiate misusers, giving contact names and phone numbers where assistance can be obtained.

Following the issue of this letter my Department will be closely monitoring the prescribing of controlled drugs, including benzodiazepines, to ensure that the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Acts and regulations made thereunder are observed.