HC Deb 21 July 1999 vol 335 cc549-50W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government have taken to establish detoxification centres. [91847]

Ms Jowell

Local authorities and health authorities are responsible for determining local needs and priorities for drug and alcohol treatment in their areas and for arranging the provision of services accordingly through the statutory or voluntary sector. Such services could include detoxification where a need for such a service is identified.

One of the objectives of the Government's drugs strategy is to increase the participation of problem drug users in treatment programmes. One of the main objectives of the United Kingdom anti-drugs co-ordinator's first annual report and national plan is that by the end of 1999–2000 each Drug action team will have to produce an action plan to meet the local demand for detoxification and substitute prescribing services and community based structured therapeutic programmes.