HC Deb 23 January 1990 vol 165 cc605-6W
Mr. Geraint Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many prescriptions were issued in each of the years from 1980 for(a) psychotropic drugs and (b) hypnotic drugs.

Mr. Grist

Information on number of prescriptions by type of drug is readily available only by therapeutic class. Hypnotic drugs are a class on their own, but psychotropic drugs are included in classes comprising sedatives, tranquillisers and anti-depressants.

Number of prescriptions (Thousands)
Hypnotics Sedatives/tranquillisers/anti-depressants
1980 1,149 1,925
1981 1,138 1,931
1982 1,129 1,885

Hypnotics Sedatives/tranquillisers/anti-depressants
1983 1,103 1,692
1984 1,137 1,598
1985 1,104 1,514
1986 1,216 1,493
1987 1,211 1,513
1988 1,139 1,383