Drug Addicts

HC Deb 07 July 1969 vol 786 cc941-2

26. Mr. Lubbock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients categorised as being treated as drug addicts were patients in all types of hospitals on 1st January, 1969, 1st January, 1964, 1st January, 1960, and 1st January, 1958; and what were the number of new out-patient attendances of people categorised as drug addicts during these same years.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. Julian Snow)

On 31st December, 1963, there were 97 patients in mental illness hospitals and units with a primary diagnosis of drug addiction. On 31st December, 1967, there were 78 heroin addicts as in-patients and 104 on 31st December, 1968. 391 heroin addicts attended clinics as new out-patients in the six months July to December, 1967, and 1,999 in the year 1968.

Mr. Lubbock

Are not these figures alarming as showing the rate of growth of addiction over these years? Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the facilities provided in the new out-patient centres are adequate to cope with the problem? What plans has he, apart from extending the scope of these outpatient departments, to deal with the amphetamines, which are a serious and growing problem?

Mr. Snow

As the hon. Member knows, the particular problem of amphetamine addiction is being considered by the advisory committee. As we are now beginning to obtain quite a lot of information about the pattern of addiction, I propose, Mr. Speaker, with your permission and that of the House, to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a small resumé of information in which we think that the House might be interested.

Mr. John Lee

Does that include information about the cases of people who started on so-called soft drugs and moved on to hard drugs? This is the point which is of considerable interest to us.

Mr. Snow

I am not certain that our information is yet firm enough to publish in Parliamentary form, but I take the point made by my hon. Friend. It is a most important matter, and I shall consider his question today and see what we can provided in due course.