Seanad debates
Thursday, 15 March 2012
National Drugs Strategy
2:00 am
Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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I raise this issue because on Monday the Irish Examiner examined figures released by the Health Research Board which indicated that in 2004, 34 cases of heroin addiction had been noted in Cork. This figure had increased to 254 in 2010.
We have been fortunate in Cork. In the past there was no heroin epidemic or high incidence of heroin use by comparison with the position in Dublin. We have had the good fortune to escape the problem. However, difficulties have arisen with the use of ecstasy and cocaine. The use of heroin is very worrying if it takes hold because of the crime associated with it. Heroin users are socially excluded and have poor social skills. Traditionally, they have difficult family backgrounds, high levels of social welfare dependency and low levels of educational attainment. There may be an increase in crime, from handbag snatching to more serious thefts and burglary, because heroin is more expensive than other drugs. It can wreak havoc in a community if it takes hold.
I congratulate the Garda on the work it is doing. It told a joint policing committee last September that it felt the problem was under control and that there had not been as many seizures of the drug as in previous years. This is positive. The drugs task force is working in the community with families, community groups and youth groups, in particular, to tackle heroin use to prevent an escalation. That is why I wanted to raise the matter. I want the Minister of State to assure me the Government recognises the importance of stemming the tide at this stage. We have not had a major problem in Cork and I would not like to see one develop.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly.
Heroin use continues to be concentrated primarily in Dublin and other urban centres, particularly in Leinster and the south of the country. While the prevalence of heroin has stabilised in the Dublin area, its use has become more widely dispersed around the country. One of the aims of the national drugs strategy is to expand opiate substitution treatment provision to meet requirements on a countrywide basis.
The number in opiate substitution treatment outside Dublin increased from 928 in 2004 to 2,436 in 2010. This is a trend that we welcome and one on which we intend to build. The provision of treatment is obviously positive and the increase in the treatment number does not necessarily indicate an increase in heroin use. Rather, for the most part, it involves people being able to access treatment that was not available in earlier years.
The Government considers heroin use to be a very significant ongoing problem and a source of serious concern in many communities. At the end of 2011, 9,251 people were in opiate substitution treatment. In total, 10,711 people received such treatment during that year. Such figures indicate that a substantial proportion of opiate users are now receiving treatment to address their drugs problem.
The total number on waiting lists for opiate substitution treatment in the first half of 2011 was 343 and we expect a reduction in this figure when updated figures become available. There are no under-18s on waiting lists. New opiate substitution facilities have opened in Cork, Tralee, Wexford, Kilkenny, Waterford, Limerick and Dundalk in the past two years. Furthermore, residential detoxification facilities have been established in counties Cork, Limerick, Carlow and Kilkenny.
In regard to the Cork region in particular, there has been significant investment in drug and alcohol services in HSE South in the past two years. For the past year, there has been no waiting list for opiate substitution treatment in the region and there has been a commensurate increase in the number availing of such treatment, from 34 in 2004 to 254 in 2010.
Let me outline recent initiatives in drugs services in the Cork region. Additional opiate substitution clinics were set up at Heron House, Blackpool, Cork, and at Edward Court, Tralee, and services increased at Arbour House, Cork. There is access for people from the HSE South region to dedicated residential detoxification beds provided through the voluntary sector at Farnanes, County0 Cork, Bruree, County Limerick and Tullow, County Carlow. Additional GPs were recruited - with the equivalent of three full-time GPs now compared to one part-time GP three years ago. Three new full-time nursing posts were established in counties Cork and Kerry. A full-time psychologist was appointed. The equivalent of 11 additional addiction counsellors are working in counties Cork and Kerry and a drugs rehabilitation co-ordinator was appointed for the region.
These initiatives underline the progress being made to address the use of heroin and other drugs in the Cork region. My colleagues in the Department of Health are determined that there will be increased focus on rehabilitation from problem drug use in the coming years. Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners' Customs service are continuing to tackle vigorously the supply of illegal drugs in Cork and across the rest of the country.
Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his summary of the services available. I particularly welcome the positive news that the waiting list has been reduced and that there are no under-18s thereon.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I will pass on the Senator's sentiments to the Minister for Health, to whom the question was addressed, and the responsible Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, who has a particular interest in the matter and done a lot of work in the area.