§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking or contemplating to reduce the number of people in Wales addicted to benzodiazepines.
43W
§ Mr. GristThe central initiative for combating drug misuse funded by the Department makes its own contribution to dealing with these problems. We hope to be in a position to make an announcement on funding for the coming financial year soon. Additionally, the chairman of the Welsh Medical Committee wrote to all general medical practitioners in Wales last year, to draw their attention to the views of the Welsh Committee on Drug Misuse about the prescribing of benzodiazepines.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the trend in the prescribing of benzodiazepines.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will commission research to discover the number of people in Wales addicted to benzodiazepines.
§ Mr. GristIf a suitable research proposal were put to the Department, then it would certainly be given careful consideration. The Welsh Committee on Drug Misuse is presently examining ways of collecting reliable statistical data on the incidence and prevalence of drug misuse in Wales. Their work may help to establish how many people in the Principality have problems associated with the use of benzodiazepines.