Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:491 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the use of methadone in the treatment of heroin addicts, particularly for addicts under 21 years of age. [19795/02]
Vol. 556 No. 3
491 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the use of methadone in the treatment of heroin addicts, particularly for addicts under 21 years of age. [19795/02]
The overall objective of the Government's strategy in relation to drug misuse is to significantly reduce the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. With regard to treatment the objective is to provide a range of options to encourage and enable drug misusers to avail of treatment with the aim of reducing dependency and improving overall health and social well-being, with the ultimate aim of leading a drug-free lifestyle. This approach incorporates a broad range of activities which are the hallmarks of modern drugs strategies in other jurisdictions.