HL Deb 30 November 1967 vol 287 cc227-8

3.11 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate, on the basis of previous records, of the number of heroin addicts who are likely to be notified under the Dangerous Drugs Act, and when accurate statistics are likely to become available.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)

My Lords, the number of known heroin addicts in 1966 was 899, but we cannot firmly estimate the number who will be notified under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1967 until the regulations requiring notification are in force, which we hope will be early next year.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. In order to control the spread of this dreadful addiction, would the Government urge all doctors to avoid any additions to the number of heroin addicts after notification day and also to see that the total consumption of heroin is not increased?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, doctors have to treat their patients, and they must treat them according to their best medical judgment. One of the regulations to which I referred will require the medical practitioner who attends a person whom he considers, or suspects, to be addicted to drugs of any description to notify particulars of that person to a central authority. The other regulation will restrict the prescribing of heroin and cocaine to addicts, and that regulation is being drafted. These are both regulations which were made under the Act, which was expressly designed to deal with the problem to which my noble friend referred.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, as research is of the utmost importance in the control and treatment of heroin addiction, could the notification forms for heroin addicts also be made to give some additional information, such as the occupation, the country of origin, whether the addicts are on sickness or unemployment benefit, or any other details which may be of value?

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, the forms which will be completed under the regulations will give all the information that we think is necessary. However, we are in process of making a change, in that the central records are being transferred from the Drugs Branch of the Home Office to the Statistical Branch, which is better equipped to maintain them. Some of the items of information which my noble friend suggested may not be required, but we will look at all of them.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that reply.