Written Answers. - National Drugs Strategy.
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:
89
Mr. O'Dowd
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the cost of the methadone maintenance programme in each year since its inception to date; the action he intends to take to actively encourage people on methadone maintenance to come off methadone; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24149/03]
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:
91
Mr. O'Dowd
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the measures his Department has taken to address the issue of deaths among drug users from opiate overdoses; the amount of funding which has been allocated to addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24152/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 91 together.
The overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-08 is to 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 the ultimate aim of leading a drug-free lifestyle. The health-related aspects of the national drugs strategy focus in particular on education and prevention and treatment and rehabilitation, including substitution treatment under the methadone protocol.
Since 1997 the following money has been allocated to drug treatment and rehabilitation services through the health boards and the drug treatment centre:
Allocations to drug treatment services through health boards and the drug treatment centre
|
Year
|
€M
|
|
1997
|
8.614
|
|
1998
|
0.762
|
|
1999
|
5.194
|
|
2000
|
8.901
|
|
2001
|
9.230 + 7.62*
|
|
2002
|
6.691
|
|
2003
|
1.209
|
*In 2001, additional funding of €7.62 million was transferred from the Vote of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation to this Department for costs of mainstreaming of local drugs tasks force projects in the boards in the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Southern Health Board.
The number of methadone treatment places has expanded considerably in recent years, in line with the Government's commitment under the national drugs strategy. At the end of September 2003, there were 6,844 people receiving methadone treatment. This compares with a figure of just over 5,000 at the end of 2000.
In the Eastern Regional Health Authority, there are currently 59 drug treatment locations. This compares with 12 locations in 1997. Outside the ERHA, treatment clinics have been established in the South-Eastern Health Board, Mid-Western Health Board, Western Health Board and Midland Health Board. General practitioners and pharmacists also provide treatment services and their involvement has also increased over the last number of years.
The boards aim to address substance misuse by providing effective and sustainable services working in partnership with clients and with fellow service providers. All clients entering the addiction services are assessed and appropriate treatment plans are identified based on client needs. Decisions concerning the appropriate treatment for patients are made in accordance with best practice guidelines.
Overdose prevention is an inherent part of the comprehensive range of services which the boards provide, including education and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, counselling and harm reduction. International evidence supports the view that opiate users are safer in treatment, therefore, every effort is made to encourage clients to engage in treatment.
The national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, has recently published a study on the prevalence of opiate misuse in Ireland. The study estimates that 14,452 people were using heroin in 2001. Of these, 12,456 were in the Dublin area. This represents a decrease on a 1996 figure, which estimated that 13,461 people were using heroin in the greater Dublin area. The NACD is currently engaged in a national treatment outcomes study, which will when completed provide detailed data on the operation of different treatment modalities.
