§ Mr. Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the annual number of psychotropic drug prescriptions in Wales from 1970 to 1981.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe information is readily available in a consistent format only for the years 1976 to 1980 and is as follows:
Number of prescriptions by therapeutic class* Thousands 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Hypnotics 1,132 1,149 1,163 1,231 1,149 Sedatives and tranquillisers†‡ 1,534 1,611 1,638 1,542 1,455 CNS stimulants 177 186 175 141 116 CNS stimulants and depressant combinations 9 5 7 2 2 Anti-depressants≑ 418 425 446 427 388 Anti-depressants and sedative/tranquilliser combinations 114 104 91 109 82 * Estimates obtained from a sample of approximately 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed. † Many substances classified as sedatives are capable of acting as hypnotics in higher doses and vice-versa. ‡ Includes Benzodiazepines such as librium and valium, the barbiturates which are major sedatives, and chlorpromazine and haloperidol which are major antipsychotic drugs. ≑ Includes the tricyclics.