HC Deb 04 December 2002 vol 395 cc896-7W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are receiving treatment for drug addiction in the West Midlands; and how many people were receiving treatment on 30 November(a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [84825]

Mr. Lammy

Information is not available in the form requested. The information available for drug users presenting to drug treatment agencies and general practitioners in the West Midlands in the six-month periods from 1 October 1998–31 March 1999 to 1 October 2000–31 March 2001 is given in the table.

Six-month period ending Number of users
31 March 1999 1,741
30 September 1999 2,139
31 March 2000 2,381
30 September 2000 2,572
31 March 2001 2,655

Note:

The data are from the Department of Health series of statistical bulletins, "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases" http://www.doh.gov.Uk/public/work_public_health.htm#SDD

A 'census' of drug users in treatment was carried out in 2000 to estimate the number of drug users in England in contact with drug treatment agencies in 2000–01. The number of drug users reported as being in contact with agencies in the West Midlands was 8,843. These data were published in a statistical bulletin, "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on Drug Misuse in Treatment in England, 2000–01", in December 2001. http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0133.htm.