Vol. 575 No. 5
47 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total estimated number of heroin abusers, at the latest date for which figures are available, in Dublin and the rest of the country and for each of the past five years; 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. [28558/03]
The National Advisory Committee on Drugs, for which my Department has responsibility, published a study on the prevalence of opiate misuse in Ireland last May. It estimated that there were 14,452 opiate users in Ireland in 2001, the latest date for which figures are available. This estimate is based on statistics provided by three data sources which include the central drug treatment list, Garda data and hospital in-patient data. As this was the first formal estimate of the number of opiate users undertaken since 1996, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with a breakdown for each of the past five years.
The 1996 study, which put the number of opiate users at 13,461, estimated prevalence in Dublin only. The latest study estimates that there are 12,456 opiate users in Dublin with a further 2,225 users outside the capital. The Deputy should note that the Dublin and outside Dublin figures do not add up to the national total as all three figures are the result of separate statistical calculations which are performed independently of each other. The Deputy will agree that the drop in prevalence figures in Dublin since 1996 is encouraging. Equally encouraging is the finding that the numbers of users in the 15 to 24 year old bracket has reduced substantially which may point to a lower rate of initiation into heroin misuse. The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 aims to tackle the drug problem in the most comprehensive way ever undertaken in this country and contains 100 individual actions under the four pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research. These actions are to be implemented by a range of Departments and agencies.
Under the treatment pillar of the strategy, the Deputy should note that since 1996 the availability of treatment for opiate dependence has increased very significantly. This may be a factor in explaining the latest estimates. In relation to methadone, for example, there were 1,350 places available on the central methadone treatment list at the start of 1996, whereas, currently there are approximately 6,800. 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 the continued implementation of the 100 actions set out in the national drug strategy to counteract drug use including heroin, remains a top priority.
