§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many treatment places for addicts of(a) heroin and (b) cocaine are available; how many are being used; and what estimate he makes of the total numbers of addicts of these substances. [36559]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) is the main source of information on people receiving drug treatment. 118,500 people were in treatment during 2000–2001—an eight per cent. increase over the last two years.
Information on the number of places provided specifically for heroin or cocaine users is not available, as all treatment places are for rehabilitation from all drug addictions.
Estimates from the British Crime Survey 2000 are that 4 million people use illicit drugs each year. Of the 1.8 million that use Class A drugs, 160,000–280,000 are problematic drug users.