Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Drug Treatment Programmes

5:00 pm

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I recognise that methadone has a significant role to play in harm reduction, be it in respect of health, criminal activity and so on, and I do not dispute that. My concern, and the purpose of the question, is that more than 10,000 people are currently on a methadone treatment programme, as she indicated. More than 6,000 have been on it for five years or more, while more than 4,000 are on methadone for ten years or more. Since 2016, between 70 and 80 teenagers have been on a treatment programme. I am concerned that some people seem to remain on a programme for a long time. There must be better outcomes. The Minister of State referred to a 2010 review. In 2019, it is time we reviewed it again, knowing that people are on this programme indefinitely. Are we suggesting to somebody who goes on such a programme when he or she is aged 17, 18 or 19 that he or she will still be on methadone treatment in ten or 15 years? There has to be a better outcome and the figures indicate that some people are on the programme way too long.

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