Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 23 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 July 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 1 July 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the value of using methadone as a treatment for heroin addiction; and if he will make a statement. - Inc ref to 'Pharmaceutical Treatment for Drug Misusers: Review of the Evidence Base' published on website at www.nta.nhs.uk.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the value of using methadone as a treatment for heroin addiction; and if he will make a statement. [181053] Miss Melanie Johnson: The National Treatment Agency (NTA) monitors and evaluates research on substance misuse. The research base for methadone as an effective treatment is summarised in the document, "Pharmacological Treatment for Drug Misusers: Review of the Evidence Base", published on the NTA website at: www.nta.nhs.uk

Secondary information