HC Deb 17 April 2002 vol 383 c1011W
John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated number of heroin addicts is in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) coalfield constituencies. [41807]

Jacqui Smith

The information is not available in the form requested. The information available for users presenting to drug misuse agencies (including both doctors and other agencies), with heroin as their main drug of misuse in the six-month period ending 31 March 2001 is given in the table.

Number of people presenting for treatment at drug agencies, with heroin reported as the main drug, during the six-month period ending 31 March 2001
Area of treatment Number of users
Great Britain 26,424
England 22,431
Health authorities in England classified as "coalfields" 3,669

Notes:

1. The data are derived from the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases for six months ending March 2001".

2. The Office for National Statistics have derived an area classification of health authorities for Great Britain which includes the category "coalfields" published as "The ONS classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain: revised for authorities in 1999——ISBN 1 85774 355 5".