Our ref: DE00000708228
Dear Mr Perrott,
Thank you for your further emails of 13 and 15 June to the Department of Health about benzodiazepine addiction. I have been asked to reply.
I am afraid there is little more I can add to my colleague, Matthew Fluck’s previous reply. As stated in that reply (Our ref: TO00000601603), in line with the World Health Organization’s definition of dependence, the Department does not describe dependence on a substance as either voluntary or involuntary as dependence by its very nature is involuntary.
I note that you state that you did not receive a copy of my previous response (our ref: DE00000702340). Please find attached a copy of that reply, dated 12 June, for your convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Angela Gillen
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health