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Minister For
Justice, Equality and Law Reform:
Methadone is prescribed for
prisoners in as part of either a detoxification regime or, where
clinically indicated, as part of a maintenance programme for prisoners who
have either been on such a programme in the community prior to commital or
who are, following clinical assessment, considered to be suitable
candidates to commence such a programme while in prison.
The Irish Prison Service has
no policy indicating a maximum dosage of methadone allowable for
prisoners. The level of dosage prescribed in each case is a matter
for individual clinical decision.
In situations where a newly
committed prisoners shows evidence of recent opiate misuse and is being
considered for a clinical detoxification using methadone it has been
long-standing policy guidance that, given the uncertainty of previous
consumption, such a detoxification should commence with a low dose and be
adjusted on the basis of on-going clinical review. This is to
minimise the risk of inadvertent overdose.
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