§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the financial resources allocated for substance misuse services; if he will list priority issues in this field; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanSince 1984 the Department has committed nearly £65 million of new money to preventing drug misuse and providing services. This includes £17.5 million on pump priming, 188 local drug projects, over £35 million to HAs to develop and expand services, over £8 million on campaigns of information and education and £3 million on funding the headquarters costs of major voluntary organisations.
The Government's objectives have been to prevent, as far as possible, people from using drugs in the first place; to reduce the physical harm of those who do use drugs, and to provide users with advice and treatment services to help them live without drugs.