§ 53 and 54. Mr. Parkinasked the Minister of Health (1) in view of the increase in teenage drinamyl addiction, what steps he is taking to make preventive measures effective and to make treatment facilities widely and freely available; and whether, in particular, he will make short-tern treatment readily available in general hospitals;
(2) whether he will ask the Medical Research Council to conduct an inquiry into the long-term toxic effects and the treatment of addiction resulting from the illicit use by young people of drinamyl and other amphetamine derivatives and compounds.
§ Mr. BraineOn preventive measures, I have nothing to add to the reply given on 30th January to the hon. Member and the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I am advised that the toxic effects of these drugs are well known to the medical profession and a special inquiry would not be justified. As regards treatment, my right hon. Friend has commended to hospital authorities the advice received from the Inter-department Committee on Drug Addiction which reported in 1961.