Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

At 31 December 2007, a total of 8,595 people were recorded on the central methadone treatment list prepared by the Drug Treatment Centre Board. This is the national register of those in receipt of methadone and records the number in treatment nationwide. The register covers the four Health Service Executive regions, including those in treatment in prisons and directly through the Drug Treatment Centre Board. A breakdown of the number of people in receipt of methadone in Dublin city is not available but it is accepted that a large proportion of the overall number comes from the greater Dublin area.

I do not accept the assertion that methadone leads to more deaths than heroin and there is no evidence to support the claim. Studies of opiate related deaths reported to the coroner in 1999 indicated that most such fatalities involved a combination of drugs. The national drug related death index being prepared by the alcohol and drug research unit of the Health Research Board will provide a national estimate of the role of methadone in drug related deaths. The index for the period from 1998 to 2005 is being finalised and will be published in the coming months.

At the same time, methadone is an opiate and I accept the danger from it is significant. It is vital it is taken under medical supervision with regular testing, whether in a clinical or community setting. The introduction some years ago of the methadone protocol to manage the distribution of methadone and minimise the risk of diversion has been largely successful. However, we must continue to work to minimise the diversion of methadone for onward sale.

While methadone has brought significant life improvements for many, I am committed to empowering people to access the social, economic and cultural benefits of life in line with their needs and aspirations through the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the working group on drugs rehabilitation in line with the programme for Government.

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