Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
764. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his Department’s guidelines on urine testing for methadone users; his plans to end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13554/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of the Opioid Treatment Protocol (Farrell and Barry, 2010) is the first external review of the Methadone Treatment Protocol in Ireland, examining the regulatory process and oversight of methadone and opiate dependence treatment, focusing on both the 1998 protocol and the processes by which treatment is implemented and delivered. It recognised the importance of the role of testing in determining compliance with the consumption of the prescribed medication, particularly when this is within a wider clinical assessment, with a broader care plan and focus on clinical progress on a number of dimensions.
The review recommends significantly reducing the frequency of testing, applying it on a more random basis and shifting some of the resource currently expended on organising urine testing into more key working and other related activities.
As recommended in the review, the HSE has convened a group comprising of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, HSE Addiction Services Managers and the National Social Inclusion Office to develop a comprehensive set of clinical guidelines on the treatment of opioid addiction.
Final draft Guidelines were submitted to the HSE Quality Improvement Division on the 10 March and are awaiting final approval and clearance prior to implementation.
