§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of methadone 1693W prescriptions under the average dosage recommended by the National Treatment Agency which were issued in the last year for which figures are available. [153989]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 9 February 2004]The Department does not hold any data on the number of methadone prescriptions under the average dosage recommended by the National Treatment Agency.
Methadone is issued for a number of different prescribing regimes including detoxification, reduction, and maintenance regimes. Prescribing data currently available does not differentiate between these regimes.