HL Deb 26 November 1985 vol 468 cc890-1WA
Lord Colwyn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) how many people are registered with the Home Office as being addicted to drugs and what is the estimated number of addicts not registered;

(b) what percentage of the estimated total number of addicts are receiving treatment and what is the estimated cost of this treatment;

(c) what steps are being taken to give those addicts who are cured, opportunities for involvement in community schemes to prevent possible return to addiction; and

(d) whether they support increased spending on the prevention and treatment of addiction and how they believe this might affect the crime figures in this country.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)

The number of narcotic drug addicts in the United Kingdom notified to the Home Office in 1984—excluding those recorded as receiving notifiable drugs in treatment of their addiction at the beginning of 1984 and notified again during the year—was 7,410. Some research carried out in 1981 in two urban areas in England suggested that at that time the number of opioid addicts in the local population was five times the number of notified addicts; but there are thought to be considerable local variations. At the end of 1984, 5,869 narcotic drug addicts were recorded as receiving notifiable drugs in treatment of their addiction; fuller information about treatment received and its cost is not available centrally.

Health authorities have been required to give high priority, in close collaboration with other local service providers, to improving both treatment and rehabilitation services for drug misusers. In addition, nearly £20 million has been provided centrally over the last two years to help develop local schemes and to fund prevention campaigns; and £4 million over two years is being provided to stimulate preventive action within the education service. Such measures address drug misuse but also help—along with other parts of our comprehensive strategy—to counter drug-related crime, although their impact on this could not be readily distinguished from that of other factors.