§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that benzodiazepine prescribing does not increase following the ending of the Roche case;
(2) what assessment she has made of the effect of measures to reduce benzodiazepine addiction since 1988; and what further measures she proposes;
93W(3) how many prescriptions were issued for benzodiazepines in each year since 1989.
§ Dr. MawhinneyGuidance on the prescribing of benzodiazepines was given to doctors by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines in "Current Problems number 21", in January 1988. This advice is still appropriate and doctors also have access to detailed guidance in the "British National Formulary".
No assessment has been made of the effect of these measures, but there has been a steady reduction in the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions since 1989. The information requested is shown in the table.
Thousands Year Number of prescriptions 1989 17,274 1990 16,507 1991 15,662 Notes:
1. From January 1991, the data are based on items. Previously they were based on prescription fees and some items may attract more than one fee.
2. Figures for 1992 are not yet available.
§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the total sum allocated for addiction problems and (b) the proportion of this allocated specifically to problems of benzodiazepine addiction (i) in 1988 and (ii) in 1992.
§ Dr. MawhinneyA total of £11.2 million was specifically allocated to health authorities in 1988–89 for the provision of services for drug misusers, including funds to help prevent the spread of HIV among drug misusers and from them to the wider population. The figure for 1992–93 is £20.8 million. In addition to these sums, health authorities can also fund drug misuse services from their general allocations. It is for health authorities to decide which services they purchase for people with drug problems, including those suffering from addiction to benzodiazepines.
§ 1992. Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has of the number of people addicted to benzodiazepines as a proportion of all addicts in(a) 1988 and (b)
§ Dr. MawhinneyThis information is not currently available centrally.
§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ask the Committee on Safety of Medicines to change its advice to doctors as given in Bulletin 21 of January 1988 regarding the drugs valium, librium and mogadon, following the ending of the Roche case.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNone. Current advice strongly emphasises the dangers of dependence with benzodiazepines and advises doctors to limit their use to short-term relief—two to four weeks only—of anxiety and insomnia that is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress. This advice is still appropriate.