Hansard

Drugs

Volume 401: debated on Friday 14 March 2003

Download text
Back to top Previous debate Next debate
The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many registered drug addicts there were in the (a) Leeds, West constituency and (b) the city of Leeds in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [96969](2) how many registered drug addicts there are in the

(a) Leeds, West constituency and (b) the city of Leeds; how many registered drug addicts in the (i) Leeds, West constituency and (ii) the city of Leeds are receiving (a) rehabilitation and (B) other forms of drug treatment; and if he will make a statement. [96970]

Jacqui Smith

The Information is not available in the form requested.Following the closure of the Home Office Addicts Index in 1997, the regional drug misuse databases (RDMDs) were the main source of information on people presenting to drug treatment services with a drug problem.A one off exercise was carried out to estimate the number of drug users in England in contact with drug treatment agencies in 2000–01. Around 2,105 individuals were reported to be in contact with drug treatment agencies in Leeds health authority in 2000–01.Information on the numbers of users reported as presenting to drug treatment services for treatment in the Leeds HA is given in the table.

Number of users reported as presenting for treatment for drug misuse in Leeds health authority during the six months periods ending 30 September 1996 to 31 March 2001
Six month period endingNumber
September 1996664
March 1997653
September 1997498
March 1998536
September 1998927
March 1999895
September 1999816
March 2000910
September 2000746
March 2001787

Sources:

The Department of Health series of Statistical Bulletins "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases". Bulletins for the six months ending March 1998 onwards are available at http:// www.doh.gov.uk/public/work public health.html

The number of drug misusers in Leeds HA receiving rehabilitation and other forms of treatment in 2000–;01 is shown in the table. In addition, drugs misusers usually resident in Leeds may be attending rehabilitation centres (or other forms of treatment) outside the area.

Number of drug misusers in treatment in Leeds HA by type of agency, 2000–01

Agency Type

Number

Community: Specialist services1,713
Community : General Practitioners289
Structured Day programmes219
Resident rehabilitation19
Others85
Total2,105

Notes:

  • 1. In the case of residential rehabilitation, places are often purchased at a residential centre that may be outside the drug misusers area of residence. In practice some local authority social services departments agree to fund long distance placements with the agreement of the drug misuser so he/she can be removed from the area where they are involved in drug using. This means that in theory drug misusers resident in Leeds may be receiving treatment in rehabilitation centres elsewhere in England.
  • 2. Following NHS reorganisation in 2002, Leeds health authority became part of West
    Yorkshire Strategic health authority.
  • 3. Data from the Leeds Drug Action Team shows investment and attendance as 201 additional structured day programmes and 19 placements in residential rehabilitation.

    • Source:

    Department of Health Statistical Bulletin—"Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on drug misusers in treatment in England, 2000/01" http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sbQ133.htm

    John Mann

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into opioid substitution therapy. [101578]

    Ms Blears

    The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) is aware that there is well-developed research evidence into the use of opioid substitution therapy—particularly into the effectiveness of oral methadone maintenance treatment. An important part of the NTA role is to support high quality evidence based practice. It is recognised that some findings from the evidence base are not fully implemented and the NTA has built a variety of mechanisms to support the implementation of key research findings into to practice, including briefings, training, commissioning guidance and increasingly performance management systems. The NTA is also working with the Department of Health to develop dissemination of the findings of its current drug treatment research programme. The NTA has recently published a briefing on the advice of its expert group on prescribing, which includes a brief review of the evidence base for opioid treatment.Copies have been placed in the Library.The NTA will commission new research in line with the outcome of its current priority setting exercise that is awaiting approval by the NTA Board in March. Research bodies will be invited to submit tenders in line with these priorities.