Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug Misuse.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

70 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to concerns that a very small number of general practitioners may be prescribing tranquillisers for financial gain and thus feeding the supply of drugs on the street; the action, if any, he will take to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5493/00]

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

168 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to introduce restrictions on the prescribing of benzodiazepine, particularly in view of the fact that high levels of its use continues to hinder progress at drug treatment clinics. [5679/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 168 together.

Benzodiazepines are controlled drugs – tranquillisers – which are available only on prescription from medical practitioners. I am aware that concerns have been raised about the inappropriate prescribing of these drugs to opiate misusers by a small number of general practitioners.

As part of an external review of drug services for the Eastern Health Board, which was carried out in 1999 an analysis was made over a four month period of urine tests in five of the board's drug treatment clinics. This analysis showed that over that period 65% of the clients attending the clinics tested positive for benzodiazepines.

The Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations, 1998 had a major impact on limiting the availability of methadone on the illicit market. The situation regarding benzodiazepines is, however, not as clearcut as for methadone. Even in health board treatment clinics benzodiazepines may be legitimately prescribed to drug misusers, so there is an issue around determining clinical guidelines for management of drug misusers and appropriate dosages of various medications.

My Department's officials have written to all general practitioners on a number of occasions concerning the need for them to exercise caution when prescribing controlled drugs, including benzodiazepines. In the most recent letter, 30 August 1999, from my Department's chief medical officer to all general practitioners, he advised doctors to contact health board GP co-ordinators on best clinical practice in relation to treatment of opiate misusers, and he gave contact names and phone numbers where assistance could be obtained. Under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984, of course, 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 is currently considering what further action is required to minimise the availability of these drugs on the illicit market.