§ Shona McIsaacTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has to tackle the problem of the misuse of prescribed methadone. [90893]
§ Ms JowellThe Government are keen to reduce the availability of prescribed controlled drugs such as methadone on the illicit market. Revised clinical guidelines for doctors treating drug misusers were launched in April and sent to all GPs as well as specialists working within the field of drug misuse. They emphasise the importance of supervising the consumption of controlled drugs such as methadone, to improve patient compliance and prevent prescribed drugs reaching the illegal market. Instalment dispensing is also recommended, to avoid drug misusers receiving prescriptions for large quantities of drugs. The working group of experts which drew up the Clinical Guidelines also made a number of recommendations for additional controls on prescribing to addicts. These are intended to underpin the Guidelines by ensuring that only doctors who are properly trained and resourced engage in addiction treatment. The Government will soon be consulting on these proposals.