Drug Abuse (Hansard, 24 November 1992)

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fatalities took place in each of the last three years in each health board area from causes associated with(a) solvent abuse and (b) illegal drugs.

§ Mr. Hanley
The number of solvent associated deaths in Northern Ireland during the past three years was as follows:

Board 1989–90 Hospitals 1990–91 Hospitals 1991–92 Hospitals

Mental illness Others Mental illness Others Mental illness Others

(a) Solvent misuse

Eastern 0 4 5 ¹— 9 ¹—

Northern 1 0 0 ¹— 4 —

Southern 0 0 0 — 1 —

Western 0 3 0 — 0 —

Total 1 7 5 — 14 —

(b) Drug misuse

Eastern 35 9 36 — 44 —

Northern 4 0 3 — 5 —

Southern 3 4 5 — 5 —

Western 7 1 3 — 8 —

Total 49 14 47 — 62 —

¹ Not yet available.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people (i) under 16 years, (ii) under 18

Mental illness hospitals Other hospitals

In-patients Out-patients In-patients only

Under 16 years 16–17 years Over 18 years Total Under 16 years 16–17 years Over 18 years Total Under 16 years 16–17 years Over 18 years Total

1989–90

Eastern board 0 0 35 35 0 0 41 41 2 3 8 13

Northern board 0 1 4 5 0 0 7 7 0 0 0 0

Southern board 0 0 3 3 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 4

Western board 0 0 7 7 0 0 8 8 0 1 3 4

Total 0 1 49 50 0 0 58 58 2 4 15 21

1990–91

Eastern board 0 0 41 41 0 0 49 49 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Northern board 0 0 3 3 3 1 7 11 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Southern board 0 0 5 5 0 0 5 5 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Western board 0 0 3 3 0 1 5 6 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Total 0 0 52 52 3 2 66 71 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

1991–92

Eastern board 0 0 53 53 0 0 58 58 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Northern board 0 4 5 9 9 7 2 18 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

610W

Health and social services board 1989 1990 1991

Eastern — — 8

Northern 1 2 1

Southern 1 2 1

Western 2 — 1

Total 4 4 11

Information about the small number of fatalities resulting from the illegal use of drugs is not available as these cannot readily be distinguished from deaths associated with the overdose—accidental or otherwise—of prescribed medication.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hospital admissions took place in each of the last three years in each health board area from causes associated with(a) solvent abuse and (b) illegal drugs.

§ Mr. Hanley
The number of patients who received hospital treatment for solvent and drug misuse in each board area in the past three years is as follows:
years but over 16 and (iii) over 18 years of age were treated for drug or solvent abuse in each health board area in each of the past three years.

§ Mr. Hanley
The numbers of people treated in hospitals for drug misuse during the past three years are as follows:
611W

Mental illness hospitals Other hospitals

In-patients Out-patients In-patients only

Under 16 years 16–17 years Over 18 years Total Under 16 years 16–17 years Over 18 years Total Under 16 years 16–17 years Over 18 years Total

Southern board 0 0 6 6 0 0 4 4 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Western board 0 0 8 8 0 0 15 15 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

Total 0 4 72 76 9 7 79 95 ¹— ¹— ¹— ¹—

¹Information not yet available.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the monitoring procedures employed by each health board to assess and review drug abuse and solvent abuse problems.

§ Mr. Hanley
Health and social services boards, through their community addiction teams and health education and promotion departments, maintain close contact on drug and solvent misuse with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, voluntary bodies, other health professionals and interested groups within their areas. Each board is represented on the Northern Ireland Committee on Drug Misuse which monitors the extent of drug and solvent misuse in the Province and advises the Department of Health and Social Services on prevention measures.
There is also a statutory requirement for all doctors to notify the Department of Health's Chief Medical Officer of any person who is considered or suspected of being addicted to a drug or drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total financial provision made available by each health board, and the Department of Health and Social Services, in each of the past three years for the purpose of combating solvent and drug abuse.

§ Mr. Hanley
I regret that this information is not available. Resources to combat solvent and drug misuse are included in overall health and personal social services allocations and cannot be identified separately.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to undertake public awareness campaigns aimed at informing (i) school children and (ii) the general public of the dangers of drug or solvent abuse.

§ Mr. Hanley
The Department of Education has issued detailed guidance on misuse of drugs to all schools, further education colleges and youth groups in the province. The Department of Health and Social Services has also published an advice booklet on solvent misuse aimed at parents and the issue of a similar booklet on drugs is under consideration. The Northern Ireland Committee on Drug Misuse is at present considering what further measures are necessary to help prevent drug and solvent misuse by young people.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions for drug and solvent offences have been launched in Northern Ireland in each of the past three years.

§ Mr. Mates
The requested information is as follows:612W

Year Drugs offences Solvent offences

Successful Unsuccessful Successful Unsuccessful

1989 133 15 — —

1990 113 9 1 —

1991 157 9 — —

1992¹ 229 16 — —

¹To 19 November.

§ Mr. Mallon
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of officers employed on programmes dealing with drug and solvent abuses in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Mates
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question from the hon. Member for Antrim, East (Mr. Beggs) on 16 November 1992,Official Report, column 7.

Board	1989–90 Hospitals	1990–91 Hospitals	1991–92 Hospitals
	Mental illness	Others	Mental illness	Others	Mental illness	Others
(a) Solvent misuse
Eastern	0	4	5	¹—	9	¹—
Northern	1	0	0	¹—	4	—
Southern	0	0	0	—	1	—
Western	0	3	0	—	0	—
Total	1	7	5	—	14	—
(b) Drug misuse
Eastern	35	9	36	—	44	—
Northern	4	0	3	—	5	—
Southern	3	4	5	—	5	—
Western	7	1	3	—	8	—
Total	49	14	47	—	62	—
¹ Not yet available.

	Mental illness hospitals	Other hospitals
	In-patients	Out-patients	In-patients only
	Under 16 years	16–17 years	Over 18 years	Total	Under 16 years	16–17 years	Over 18 years	Total	Under 16 years	16–17 years	Over 18 years	Total
1989–90
Eastern board	0	0	35	35	0	0	41	41	2	3	8	13
Northern board	0	1	4	5	0	0	7	7	0	0	0	0
Southern board	0	0	3	3	0	0	2	2	0	0	4	4
Western board	0	0	7	7	0	0	8	8	0	1	3	4
Total	0	1	49	50	0	0	58	58	2	4	15	21
1990–91
Eastern board	0	0	41	41	0	0	49	49	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Northern board	0	0	3	3	3	1	7	11	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Southern board	0	0	5	5	0	0	5	5	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Western board	0	0	3	3	0	1	5	6	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Total	0	0	52	52	3	2	66	71	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
1991–92
Eastern board	0	0	53	53	0	0	58	58	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Northern board	0	4	5	9	9	7	2	18	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—

Health and social services board	1989	1990	1991
Eastern	—	—	8
Northern	1	2	1
Southern	1	2	1
Western	2	—	1
Total	4	4	11

Year	Drugs offences	Solvent offences
	Successful	Unsuccessful	Successful	Unsuccessful
1989	133	15	—	—
1990	113	9	1	—
1991	157	9	—	—
1992¹	229	16	—	—
¹To 19 November.