205. Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children if the drug Subutex is approved for the treatment of drug addicts; if not, if it is her intention to use or approve it. [13522/07]

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): I am aware that the drug Subutex (active ingredient buprenorphine) is an alternative choice to methadone in the treatment of opiate dependent addicts. The current position is that Subutex can only be prescribed to opiate users by addiction service consultants in specialist drug treatment clinics, where the prescription and dispensing of Subutex is tightly controlled. Another alternative drug Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone combined) was recently granted a European Medicines Agency licence. Its use is currently confined to certain drug treatment clinics. An expert group has been set up in the Department to consider the use of Subutex and the new drug Suboxone as alternative treatments for opiate dependency. Dail Debates Thursday, 5 April 2007