Written question asked by Paul Stinchcombe (Labour) on Friday, 12 April 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 April 2002. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Thursday, 25 April 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of the drug naltraxone being taken in implant form in the rehabilitation of heroin addicts.

Answer: Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of the drug naltrexone being taken in implant form in the rehabilitation of heroin addicts. [50629] Ms Blears: No assessment of the benefits of naltrexone being taken in implant form in the rehabilitation of heroin users has yet been made. This is because a sufficiently developed evidence base does not yet exist. Naltrexone in implant form is not currently licensed for this indication in the United Kingdom. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) for drug misuse treatment, will continue to monitor the evidence for this proposed treatment.

Secondary information