Health: Addiction to Prescribed Drugs
Questions
Asked by The Earl of Sandwich
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken regarding addiction to prescribed medication following the points agreed at the Round Table meeting on 15 September; and when that group will be reconvened.[HL15005]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will make a statement on their policy on tranquilliser addiction.[HL15006]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Anne Milton, to visit specialised prescribed medication clinics and centres of excellence in the United Kingdom, in addition to the centre in Oldham.[HL15007]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, (Anne Milton) met the noble Lord on 13 December 2011 to discuss future action on addiction to medicines. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will be reconvening the roundtable meeting in March 2012, to review the progress against the points agreed at the round table meeting on 15 September 2011.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will be meeting patients to discuss addiction to medicines on 31 January and is planning to visit a dedicated tranquilliser withdrawal service in June 2012.