HC Deb 22 January 2003 vol 398 cc388-9W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered drug addicts there were in(a) Tunbridge Wells and (b) Kent in each of the past five years. [92110]

Ms Blears

Following the closure of the Home Office Addicts Index in 1997, the regional drug misuse databases were the main source of information on persons presenting to drug treatment services with a drug problem. Information is available by health authority (HA) area and is shown in the table.

Number of users reported as presenting for treatment for drug
misuse in East Kent and West Kent Has during the six month
periods ending 30 September 1996 to 31 March 2001
Six month period ending East Kent HA West Kent HA Total
September 1996 106 356 462
March 1997 57 296 353
September 1997 105 196 301
March 1998 20 195 215
September 1998 14 222 236
March 1999 63 132 195
September 1999 132 116 248
March 2000 180 288 468
September 2000 174 284 458
March 2001 162 201 363

Notes:

1. Reporting to the Regional Drug Misuse Databases was voluntary; changes in the numbers of users presenting may, at least in part, be due to changes in reporting practice.

2. Following NHS reorganisation in 2002, East Kent and West Kent health authorities became part of the Kent and Medway strategic health authority.

Source:

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 on the internet at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/publiciwork public health.htm£SDD

Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug rehabilitation places were available to registered drug addicts in(a) Tunbridge Wells and (b) Kent in each of the past five years. [92117]

Ms Blears

In the case of residential rehabilitation, places are often purchased at a residential centre that may be outside the drug misuser's area of residence. Some social services agree to fund long distance placements with the agreement of the drug misusers so that he or she can be removed from the area where they are involved in drug using. Purchasing decisions are entirely a matter for agreement between the drug misusers and the local agencies.