Drugs: Prescribed Drug Addiction

Lord Patel of Bradford Excerpts
Thursday 12th July 2012

(12 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Patel of Bradford Portrait Lord Patel of Bradford
- Hansard - -

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 Portrait Earl Howe
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

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