§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines the chief medical officer has issued to consultants and general practitioners on how best to treat those suffering from the use of ecstasy and similar drugs;
(2) what advice has been given to general practitioners on how best to warn patients on their lists of the risks of illness and death from ecstasy and similar drugs.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Department has recently published updated "Guidelines on Clinical Management of Drug Misuse and Dependence", a copy of which is available in the Library. These are being circulated to every doctor in England, Scotland and Wales. The guidelines include information for doctors on the problems associated with use of ecstasy and similar drugs and recommend a range of treatments for these problems.
§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he is funding into the medical and psychological effects of use of ecstasy and similar drugs.
§ Mr. DorrellExploratory work is being undertaken by a group of doctors at the Institute of Psychiatry and the Maudsley hospital to determine the possible adverse effects of ecstasy. The Department is keeping a watching brief on this and is aware of some interest in this area among other drug researchers.
§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of illness due to use of ecstasy and similar drugs have been reported by month during 1990 and 1991.
§ Mr. DorrellThis information is not collected centrally.