Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government proposal to open two cocaine specific treatment centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28654/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In recent times, the Health Service Executive has re-oriented its addiction services to address the needs arising from changing patterns of drug use in the population e.g. evidence shows that most cocaine users are poly drug misusers and need to be treated for poly drug misuse and not solely for cocaine use. The HSE is also involved in developing community based stand-alone stimulant intervention services which includes additional training for its staff on issues such as cocaine and it is re-engineering existing addiction services to meet emerging needs. Evidence also indicates that many approaches already in use in general addiction services work well with cocaine users. The commitment in the Programme for Government is being considered against this background.