151 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health the amount of money which has been allocated by his Department to each of the health boards for drug treatment prevention programmes in respect of each of the years from 1990 to date. [12757/96]

Limerick East): My Department's Health Promotion Unit has in place a range of national drug prevention and education programmes. The amount spent on these programmes by the Unit each year since 1990 is

152 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health the measures, if any, that can be taken to deal with drug addicts who are not prepared to receive any treatment for their drug addiction. [12758/96]

Limerick East): There is no statutory basis for compelling a drug misuser to undergo treatment, unless it is ordered by the Courts on foot of a conviction under the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984. It is generally recognised that successful treatment outcomes for those addicted to drugs are achieved where drug misusers themselves are committed to undergoing treatment for their addiction.

It has also been recognised internationally that the provision of methadone maintenance programmes to intravenous drug misusers can be a first step in the process of getting somebody addicted to drugs to deal with his/her addiction.