Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not expect the Minister to answer my next question if he does not know the details. In the context of rolling out the naloxone programme, will Garda stations and other places in areas of high drug use have naloxone available? It seems that while we make some efforts in the treatment of heroin and opiate addicts, in particular, we seem to be happy enough just to give them methadone and hope they go on their merry way and not annoy society any more. Collectively, that is not good enough. Some are on methadone for up to 20 years. We must examine other options to try to ensure we give addicts every assistance in trying to address their drug addiction. Handing out methadone alone without other supports, including detoxification programmes, and without considering other substitutes is insufficient. We have not given heroin users options to try to treat or deal with their addictions in recent times. I welcome the broader issue, which concerns a full review of our drug treatment systems.

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