Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
93
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
the total estimated number of heroin abusers in Dublin and the rest of the country; the steps being taken to counter such extensive heroin use, especially in the context of the implementation of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17745/03]
As the Deputy may be aware, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, for which my Department has responsibility, recently published a study on the prevalence of opiate misuse in Ireland. The estimate is based on statistics provided by three data sources for 2001, the central drug treatment list, the national Garda study on drugs, crime and related activity and the hospital in-patient enquiry database.
The Deputy should note that this is the first formal estimate of the number of opiate users undertaken since the 1996 study carried out by Doctor Catherine Comiskey, which used the same methodology. However, the 1996 study, which arrived at an estimate of 13,461, estimated prevalence for Dublin only. The latest study estimates that there were 14,452 people using opiates in Ireland in 2001. The estimated figure for Dublin is 12,456 with 2,225 people using opiates outside the capital. It is important to note that the Dublin and outside Dublin estimates do not add up to the national total as all three figures are the result of separate statistical calculations which were performed independently of each other
I am sure that the Deputy will agree that the drop in prevalence figures in Dublin is encouraging – as is the other finding in the report that the numbers of users in the 15-24 year old bracket has reduced substantially which may point to a lower rate of initiation into heroin misuse. The Deputy will appreciate that since 1996 the availability of treatment for opiate dependence has increased very significantly and this may be a factor in explaining the latest estimates. For example, in relation to methadone, there were 1,350 places available on the central methadone treatment list at the start of 1996, whereas currently there are approximately 6,600.
As I said at the time of the launch of the NACD study, while many of the study's findings are encouraging, we cannot afford any degree of complacency. The Government remains committed to working in partnership with communities most affected by drug misuse and has set out in the national drugs strategy how it intends to tackle the drug problem, including heroin, through the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. In this context, the continued implementation of the 100 actions set out in the national drug strategy remains a priority.
I do not feel that any change in direction in the strategy is warranted as a result of the NACD study. However, I should point out that the strategy provides for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the overall framework by end 2004. This will examine the progress being made in achieving the overall key strategic goals set out in the strategy and will enable priorities for further action to be identified and a re-focusing of the strategy, if necessary.
