Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce dependence on anti-depressant drugs.

I have commissioned Public Health England to review the evidence for dependence on, and withdrawal from, prescribed medicines. The review was launched in January 2018 and is due to report in spring 2019.

Withdrawal is defined as discontinuation syndrome in relation to anti-depressants because there is no consensus that these drugs cause dependence. The review includes antidepressants and short term discontinuation or longer term withdrawal symptoms associated with prescribed medicines.

More information about the review, including its scope and the methods that will be used, is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/news/prescribed-medicines-that-may-cause-dependence-or-withdrawal