Seán Crowe
Ceist:217 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of heroin addicts in the Dublin area currently awaiting treatment; and the measures he proposes to take to eliminate this waiting list. [14949/02]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.
Up to the end of April 2002 there were 366 heroin addicts in the Dublin area awaiting treatment. This compares with a figure of 438 for the end of January 2002.
The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 contains 100 actions, under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. One of its objectives is to enable people with drug misuse problems to access treatment and other supports in order to re-integrate into society. A target of an increase in the number of treatment places for opiate addiction to a national minimum of 6,500 by the end of 2002 has been set and all health boards are working to extend services to achieve this target. The central treatment list stands at 6,097 as of the end of April 2002, an increase of over 15% compared to May 2001.
At present there are 5,936 people in receipt of methadone in the ERHA region. Services are delivered through 55 clinics and by 144 GPs who provide treatment to people in their own locality. As a matter of priority, consideration is being given to how the level of GP and pharmacy involvement in the provision of treatment programmes can be increased. Increased capacity at primary level will have the effect of alleviating the pressure on the clinic services which are currently oversubscribed.
Question No. 218 answered with Question No. 216.