Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Individuals with an addiction to drugs and alcohol can access the full range of general health services including primary care, secondary care, social care and mental health services. There are also specific services for addiction. Health Service Executive funding of €109 million is provided for alcohol and drug addiction services in 2015.

People who present for alcohol addiction treatment are offered a range of interventions based on the four tier model of treatment intervention. The quality of client care remains a central focus of the addiction service. The HSE is aware of the growing need for interventions to address those addicted to drugs and alcohol. The issue of support for those with alcohol addiction will also be considered as part of national strategy development, most particularly in developing the new drugs strategy and in the forthcoming review of A Vision for Change. The resources available to address substance misuse will be kept under review in the context of the overall resources available to the health services.

It is essential to have a public health policy response which seeks to reduce the number of people engaged in the harmful use of alcohol. The Government approved the general scheme of a public health (alcohol) Bill in February. The scheme includes provisions for minimum unit pricing, health labelling on products that contain alcohol, restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol and the regulation of sports sponsorship. Work is ongoing on the preparation of the legislation and it is expected that the Bill will be published in the autumn. The other measures set out in the steering group report on a national substance misuse strategy were endorsed by the Government. The first annual report on the national substance misuse strategy is due later this year. A range of services is provided for those with drug and alcohol addictions. Work is under way to review these services to ensure that they are developed in line with evolving needs and best practice.

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