§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the steps his Department is taking to reduce drug abuse in Worcestershire. [8627]
§ Mr. HuttonWorcestershire health authority has a countywide strategy for substance misuse which has been agreed by all the relevant agencies. The health authority is leading on the following initiatives included in the action plan for March 2001 to April 2002
To set up a community drug team in the south of WorcestershireTo increase and improve existing needle exchange provisionTo improve access to and provision of services for women, including pregnant womenTo assess the treatment and care needs of ethnic minority groups to improve access to servicesTo further promote and encourage general practitioner liaison and shared careWorking with community pharmacies and the local pharmaceutical committee to pilot supervised methadone consumption schemes in 2–3 local pharmacies, and review the results.The multi-agency drug action team is currently working to implement the strategy across the county.
In addition, the health authority received £1.14 million (for 2001–02) from the Department to reduce drug abuse in Worcestershire.