§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies her Department has made of the possible negative effects of using temazepam without a prescription, with special reference to the injection of the drug; what assessment she has made of whether other benzodiazepines are more effective in the treatment of anxiety and sleeplessness than temazepam; what information and educational material is currently available to the general public concerning the ill effects of illegal 255W use of temazepam; to what degree this information is available; and if she will make a statement. [29247]
§ Mr. BowisThe Department has commissioned research on the impact of prescription drug leakage on the illicit drug market, including on the risk behaviours associated with injecting prescription drugs. It is due to be completed in late 1996.
It is for doctors treating patients for anxiety and sleeplessness to decide which benzodiazepine, if any, would be the most effective for individual patients. Doctors have access to information about the effects of benzodiazepine prescribing in the British National Formulary, copies of which are in the Library. The Department issues this to all doctors free of charge.
General information on the ill-effects of the misuse of benzodiazepines, including temazepam, is given in the leaflets "Drugs and Solvent Misuse—A Basic Briefing" and "Drugs and Solvents: Things You Should Know" which is targeted at young people. These are widely available and, together with similar leaflets produced for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, can be ordered free of charge through the national drugs helpline service, telephone 0800 77 66 00. Local health authorities and boards or other agencies may produce their own educational materials.
The Mental Health Foundation booklet "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence", which contains information about the risks of benzodiazepines, drew attention to the potential for misuse of these drugs and for diversion of supplies to illicit markets. The booklet, copies of which are available in the Library, was circulated to all English family health services authorities in March 1994 under cover of a letter which gave Departmental endorsement to the guidelines and recommended their use by general practitioners wishing to help patients who may be dependent on benzodiazepines to shift gradually to non-prescribing interventions.
The Department is considering what further advice should be issued to FHSAs on the powers they have to examine controlled drug prescribing and to clinicians on the prescribing of benzodiazepine and related drugs.