Dr. Fiona O'Reilly:

I will respond to some of those questions and Dr. O'Carroll might wish to comment then. Deputy O'Connell raised the issue of methadone. I totally agree with what she said about the community pharmacist being that connection or human relationship with people who have an addiction and the fact that it is a very cost-effective treatment. The phrase "condemned to a life on methadone" was used. I am condemned to a life on Eltroxin because I am slightly hypothyroid. That means I have to take a tablet every day for the rest of my life. Is it a problem? No, because the manner in which it is handled is not one that is treated with stigma and mistrust. I do not have to go to a centre where I meet people who would increase my likelihood, if I had an addiction, of falling back into the habit. It is very user-friendly. It does not stop me going on holidays or anything like that. People may not feel they are condemned to a life on methadone if the manner in which treatment services provide methadone were a lot more user-friendly. Obviously, that is suitable and works very effectively in primary care. Diabetics are treated in primary care. Approximately 10% of GPs overall can and do provide methadone as level one GPs. That is a consequence of some illnesses being stigmatised in our community and being criminalised rather than being treated as a health condition. That is something that can be done by the Department of Health. A new GP contract is coming up. One could ask why methadone is not one of the basic services GPs offer to their patients. Why does a patient have to go to his or her GP for a sore throat and then go to an addiction centre for methadone? Level one treatment for methadone is based on a three-hour, free online course that provides certification. In terms of homelessness, people on waiting lists have died waiting for methadone. That is just unacceptable in this day and age.