§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what projects have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy of prescribing diamorphine to heroin addicts; and if he will make a statement. [125998]
§ Ms StuartThe Department has not carried out any projects on the efficacy of prescribing diamorphine to heroin addicts, which is subject to the Misuse of Drugs Act (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1997. The Department is funding a £2.4 million research initiative on drug misuse. Over the next four years this will deliver evidence to underpin our 10 year anti-drugs strategy. A major aim of this initiative is to improve knowledge on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatment and care procedures. The initiative includes a trial comparing the efficacy of substitute prescribing of injectable and liquid methadone.