§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to improve services for those addicted to tranquillisers and sedatives; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenGeneral hospital and community health and family practitioner services are available to those addicted to tranquillisers and sedatives. In addition, funds have been allocated under the drugs initiative to three local voluntary organisations providing services specifically for those addicted to tranquillisers and many
Voluntary Organisation Amount Applied for Description of project Result of Application TRANX £123,683 Self-help group for tranquilliser users (Harrow) £89,183 approved Tranx Release (Northampton) £29,892 Advisory and Self-help service for tranquilliser users £29,892 approved West Cumbria MIND (Copeland) £85,442 Advisory and Self-help service for tranquilliser users £85,442 approved Newcastle Association for Mental Health £99,300 Tranquilliser withdrawal support project Under consideration North Staffs Depressives Advisory Service £200,000 Tranquilliser advisory/counselling service Under consideration Haringey Women and Health Centre £210,075 Service for tranquilliser users Under consideration
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which parts of the United Kingdom have been selected as areas of priority for receiving initial sets of the leaflets to be sent out by his Department to parents about teenage drug addiction.
§ Mr. John PattenInitial sets of the Department's leaflets for parents about drug misuse are now being distributed as quickly as possible to all health authorities, social services departments, family practitioner committees, general medical practitioners, local authorities, community health councils and appropriate voluntary organisations throughout England.
224W
Scotland Retirement pensioners with increments at 30 September 1983: analysed by category, age and proportion of all retirement pensioners*, with average amount of increment Unit Men and women Men All women Women on own insurance Pension on husband's insurance† Widows on husband's insurance All ages: With increments Thousands 169 58 †11 48 26 37 Proportion of all pensioners Per cent. 21 22 20 24 17 19 Average amount of increments‡ £ 2.53 3.04 2.27 2.81 1.60 2.03 other projects offer services to this group as well as to those misusing other drugs. Guidelines on good clinical practice in the treatment of drug misuse have been issued to all doctors. They contain sdvice on the addictive potential of benzodiazepines and on withdrawal procedures. Barbiturates have from the beginning of this year been included within the scope of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those voluntary organisations concerned with those who have become addicted to prescribed tranquillisers and sedatives; which of them have applied to his Department for grant; what sum was applied for in each case; for what purpose; and what has been the result.
§ Mr. John PattenWe are only aware of voluntary organisations concerned with those who have become addicted to prescribed tranquillisers and sedatives which have applied for grants under the drugs initiative. These are:
I understand my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Slate for Wales, is undertaking a similar exercise throughout Wales.
In addition, the leaflets will be offered direct to parents through national press advertising starting in the next few days.