Written question asked by Brian Iddon (Labour) on Friday, 12 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 November 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 18 November 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of people accessing residential drug treatment do so (a) as part of a community order, (b) through the criminal justice system and (c) voluntarily. - Including figures.

Answer: Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people accessing residential drug treatment do so (a) as part of a community order, (b) through the criminal justice system and (c) voluntarily. [198933] Miss Melanie Johnson: The total percentage of people accessing all drug treatment through criminal justice referral routes--arrest referral, drug treatment and testing orders, youth offending teams, probation and counselling, assessment, referral and throughcare--was 17 per cent, in 2003-041. The remaining 83 per cent. accessed treatment by non-criminal justice system roots, including: other drug services (national health service and non-statutory agencies); general practitioners; self-referral; accident and emergency; needle/syringe exchange; psychiatry; community care assessment and employment services. However, the figure of 83 per cent. may contain some people referred through criminal justice sources who have presented at a treatment service without indicating that they have come into treatment through a criminal justice referral. 1 Source--National drug treatment monitoring system data.

Secondary information