Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

To a certain extent, the Deputy almost answered the question she raised. We need to establish a variety of treatment options which are appropriate on medical grounds. Methadone should not be a life sentence and options should be available to allow people to leave the programme. These options include detoxification and medical alternatives such as suboxone and naloxone currently under exploration.

I discussed this issue with my colleagues on the margins of the British-Irish Council meeting this morning. We are all taking the same action on medical and clinical grounds. We must be able to offer to clients on methadone options which enable them to stop using the substance. Not everyone is ready to stop taking methadone.

I attended a conference yesterday organised by the Ballymun drugs task force at which two experts from Scotland noted that some people had become addicted to methadone. We should not inflict this life sentence on anyone. I am determined to ensure, as far as possible, that options, including detoxification, are available and the commitment to increase detox beds contained in the programme for Government is met. To this end, the Department is in discussions with the voluntary sector and Health Service Executive.

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