Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with the roll-out of the National Drug Strategy treatment programmes for drug addiction; the new measures planned for the treatment of cocaine addiction under the remaining timeframe of the current strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18913/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There has been considerable expansion in treatment services under the National Drug Treatment Strategy 2001-2008 and, while improvements are still required in treatment services for drug users, I am satisfied that considerable progress has been made in improving both access and the range of services available. In regard to funding, the HSE currently makes €91 million available for its drugs services overall: this includes an additional €6 million which was allocated for key priorities in Budget 2007. Under the 2001-2008 Strategy the following developments have taken place. Just over 2,300 methadone treatment places have been created since the beginning of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. Over the same time period there has been an increase in the total number of patients receiving methadone substitution treatment each year, with the number rising from 7107 in 2001 to 9756 in 2007, a rise of 37%. The number of clinic outlets increased from 62 to 66 and the number of outpatient services have increased by 25%. The number of GPs participating in the methadone treatment scheme increased from 195 to 255. The number of pharmacies participating increased from 268 to 470.

The involvement of GPs and pharmacists facilitates the delivery of services in a patient centred way in local communities. The HSE is continuing its efforts to involve more GPs and pharmacists, particularly outside the greater Dublin area. The HSE also provides harm reduction and outreach services as does the voluntary sector: it is acknowledged that there is need to increase the availability of harm reduction services.

In recent times the HSE has been re-orienting its addiction services to address the needs arising from changing patterns of drug use in the population e.g. poly drug use including cocaine use, alcohol use and abuse of prescribed drugs. Available evidence indicates that many approaches already in use in general addiction services work well with cocaine misusers. These approaches are not specific to the treatment of a cocaine using group and are effective for problem use of other substances.

The HSE's addiction service prioritises under 18 year olds. As resources permit, the HSE is implementing the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Treatment for Under 18 year Olds Presenting to Treatment Services with Serious Drug Problems. This includes the establishment of multi-disciplinary teams.