§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered drug addicts there were in the(a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [88830]
§ Mr. HuttonFollowing the closure of the Home Office Addicts Index in 1997, the regional drug misuse databases were the main source of information on persons presenting to drug treatment services with a 801W drug problem. Information is available by health authority and regional office area and is shown in the following table:
Number of users reported as presenting for treatment for drug misuse in Kingston and Richmond health authority and the London regional office area, April 1995 to March 2001 Six month period ending Kingston and Richmond health authority London regional office area September 1995 207 5,727 March 1996 201 5,867 September 1996 235 5,690 March 1997 219 5,684 September 1997 143 4,057 March 1998 137 4,292 September 1998 157 6,564 March 1999 164 5,748 September 1999 195 6,294 March 2000 244 6,713 September 2000 225 6,626 March 2001 247 6,730 Notes:
1. Reporting to the Regional Drug Misuse Databases was voluntary; changes in numbers of users presenting may, at least in part, be due to changes in reporting practice.
2. Following NHS reorganisation in 2002, Kingston and Richmond health authority became part of the South West London Strategic Health Authority.
Source:
The Department of Health series of Statistical Bulletins "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases. Bulletins for the six months ending March 1998 onwards are available on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/work public health.htm#SDD