Fall-off in number of methadone patients in Galway

A total of 70 people are no longer availing of methadone treatment at pharmacies in Galway City, it has emerged.

There are 20 pharmacies in the city registered to dispense opiate substitute treatment (OST), and 11 of these are currently dispensing, the HSE has said.

These 11 pharmacies between them had 38 clients this month who were availing of OST, which is a scheme used to dispense methadone, a legal substitute for heroin.

One pharmacy had 13 clients and another had six. The remaining nine pharmacies had between one and four clients. The pharmacies were not identified for client confidentiality.

Breda Crehan Roche, Chief Officer, HSE Community Healthcare West supplied the information in reply to a question from Councillor John Connolly (FF) at the latest HSE West Regional Health Forum.

Two years ago, when Cllr Connolly asked a similar question, he was told that there were 108 people availing of OST in the city.

At the latest meeting, he queried why there was such a big reduction in the service, and wondered what had happened to the 70 people who were using methadone through pharmacies in August 2020.

He said that Gardaí at recent Joint Policing Committee meetings had highlighted how heroin use was a problem in Galway, and he had concerns about the fall-off in use of the scheme.

Ms Crehan Roche said she did not know but would follow-up with colleagues and revert to Cllr Connolly.