Written question asked by Adrian Flook (Conservative) on Monday, 14 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 March 2005. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 4th March, 431 c1466-7W, on drug rehabilitation, what measures he is taking to encourage community drug services' treatment protocols to reflect the advice on alternatives to methadone substitution therapy.

Answer: Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March, Official Report, column 1467W, on drug rehabilitation, what measures he is taking to encourage community drug services' treatment protocols to reflect the advice on alternatives to methadone substitution therapy. [222519] Miss Melanie Johnson: [holding answer 17 March 2005]: A range of guidance has been produced by the Department and the National Treatment Agency (NTA) including: Department of Health Clinical Guidelines (1999); Models of Care for the Treatment of Drug Misusers (December 2002), and NTA guidance on components of prescribing services (2003)-- Research into practice briefing 2. These all promote a range of appropriate treatment options including alternatives to methadone substitution therapy. These documents promote the use of medication in the context of a package of care and advise on detoxification and availability of a range of psychological interventions and pathways to rehabilitation and recovery. The Department continues to fund the Royal College of General Practitioners, which provides training to doctors, nurses and pharmacists on the range of drug treatment options including substitution medication and psychological interventions.

Secondary information