§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he proposes to make plastic rather than glass syringes available to drug addicts at the centres announced in his answer of 18 December to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mr. Galley) Official Report, column 703.
§ Mrs. CurrieGlass syringes require sterilisation between use. Experience has shown that injecting drug misusers do not always follow sterilising procedures when using injecting equipment.
Plastic syringes are for single use only and will help to reduce the risk of infection caused by the sharing of injecting equipment.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which special health authorities have beds available in special in-patient units for drug misusers.
§ Mrs. CurrieAt December 1985 National Health Service returns indicated that there was a special unit exclusively for the in-patient treatment of drug dependence in Bethlem Royal and Maudsley special health authority hospital.
§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many in-patient beds there are for registered drug addicts in Avon; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieOn 31 December 1985 there were no special units in Bristol and Weston, Frenchay or Southmead district health authorities for the in-patient treatment of drug misusers. Most people admitted for drug misuse are treated in general psychiatric wards and not in beds specifically assigned for drug misuse.