539. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of CHOs currently prescribing suboxone to those experiencing opioid addiction; and the number of prescriptions prescribed in respect of each CHO in 2022, in tabular form. [41128/23]

541. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans over the next three years to optimise accessibility to suboxone to those experiencing opioid addiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41130/23] 

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Health: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 541 together. 

Suboxone is the proprietary name of a medicinal product containing buprenorphine and naloxone. 

The Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone and Medicinal Products containing Buprenorphine authorised for Opioid Substitution Treatment) Regulations 2017 came into effect on 22nd November 2017. 

The purpose of these Regulations is to provide access to certain buprenorphine-based medicinal products for Opioid Substitution Treatment (including buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine only) on the same statutory basis as methadone. 

The phased rollout of suboxone commenced on 1st May 2018 and allowed for prescribing of this product by trained Doctors working in HSE Addiction service and specifically approved Level 1 and Level 2 GPs outside the Dublin region. This rollout then extended to suitably trained Level 1 and 2 GPs within the Dublin region in October 2018.This rollout of buprenorphine based products has continued successfully since then and the use of these substances increased substantially during the Covid pandemic due to the ease of induction onto the substance. 

At the end of August 2023 there were 821 patients in receipt of buprenorphine based products as an Opioid Agonist treatment. 

The HSE has advised that the use of buprenorphine based products will continue to be supported over the next three years. I understand that when new formulations become available they will be provided pending successful evaluation. 

The HSE anticipates that numbers in receipt of buprenorphine based products will continue to rise in the coming years. 

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 542 – Addiction treatment services [41131/23] 

542. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the CHOs that currently provide rapid access stabilisation units; his plans to provide future funding for such units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41131/23] 

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton): Future funding for rapid access stabilisation units, as with all drug treatment services, will be considered as part of the Estimates process. As the number and location of stabilisation units is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.