Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 248: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the fact that there is an alternative treatment other than Methadone for opiate misuse, namely Buprenorphine, she will make Buprenorphine available to patients recovering from opiate abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20989/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The current position is that Buprenorphine can be prescribed to opiate users by addiction service consultants in specialist drug treatment clinics, where the prescription and dispensing of Buprenorphine is tightly controlled. The Irish Medicines Board has recently amended the authorisation for Buprenorphine to allow it to be prescribed by General Practitioners who have specialist training in its use. My Department is considering the implications of this revised authorisation, especially in view of the diversion potential of Buprenorphine in its current form.