Drugs: Prescribed Drug Addiction

Lord Patel of Bradford Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Patel of Bradford]

My Lords, while there certainly is a focus on recovery for illegal drug users, does the Minister agree that the journey from being a drug user to becoming “recovered”—that is, to abstinence—is very complicated? It may require that person to have treatments, including methadone, Subutex and other drugs. It is not simply a matter of someone becoming abstinent, especially in the current economic climate. Does he agree that that is still the direction of travel?

[Earl Howe]

Most certainly yes, and that conforms to all the expert advice that we in the department and local commissioners have received.