§ Lord Glanuskasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the drug treatment trials undertaken by the Society of Biophysical Medicine at their own expense in Liverpool, what is their opinion of these trials, and whether they are prepared to support their continuation or expansion in view of the very satisfactory progress made to date.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe information provided to the department by the Society of Biophysical Medicine about their use of electro-acupuncture in detoxifying drug misusers does not demonstrate that this method is superior to any other. The results of a comparative trial on the use of neuro-electro therapy and oral methadone in managing opiate withdrawal conducted at the Bethlem Royal Hospital were published in theBritish Journal of Psychiatry in 1984; though the numbers of patients involved in this trial was small and the results are therefore not conclusive, electro stimulation was found to be markedly inferior to methadone withdrawal treatment. I understand that a study is presently being undertaken by the National Institute for Mental Health in the United States of 951WA America. The department has indicated that it would be prepared to consider research proposals for a further comparative trial.
It is for the local health authority to consider whether they wish to incorporate the clinic set up by the Society of Biophysical Medicine into their services for drug misusers.