HC Deb 11 April 1984 vol 58 cc214-5W
Mr. Merchant

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of heroin addiction on Tyneside.

Mr. Mellor

I am concerned that the level of heroin addiction on Tyneside appears to have increased over the last year, as it has in many other areas of the country. Complete statistics for 1983 are not yet available, but preliminary indications for Tyneside suggest that police seizures of heroin, arrests for offences involving heroin, and notifications of addicts will all show an increase.

The Government will continue to use all available means to tackle drug misuse, through efforts to stop the supply of illicit drugs at source, through effective law enforcement action by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police, and through improvements in prevention programmes and treatment and rehabilitation services.