Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

John Gormley

Ceist:

542 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, taken by his Department to deal with the serious drug problem in the south east inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18387/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The provision of drug treatment services in the Dublin area is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Health Board in the first instance.

The area in question has one addiction centre at Baggot Street Hospital and three satellite clinics; Rathmines, Bride Street and Irishtown. The addiction centre, which caters for 37 clients provides treatment and detoxification programmes, counselling, primary health care and family supports. A specific service is operated for young people involved in heroin use.

The satellite clinics cater for 37 clients and provide methadone maintenance services including urinalysis and counselling. Local general practitioners and pharmacists are also involved in the provision of treatment.

The board provides an outreach programme where outreach workers encourage drug misusers to take up services. They also work in the area of health promotion and drug prevention with the community, schools and other relevant groups.

In addition, the south inner city local drugs task force is engaged in a range of activities to tackle the drug problem. A number of initiatives ranging from education and prevention to aftercare and rehabilitation are being funded via the task force. The Eastern Health Board will be keeping the drug misuse problem in the south east inner city under review to ensure that appropriate services are in place to respond to any problems which may emerge.