Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to mandate NHS England to commission services locally for patients who are suffering from the impact of long-term use of dependence forming medicines.

Local authorities are supported by Public Health England to develop tailored responses to existing and emerging drug misuse in their area and, in conjunction with the National Health Service, to address specific concerns about addiction to prescribed and over the counter medicines.

The Department has commissioned Public Health England to undertake an evidence review to better understand the scope of the problem of prescribed drug dependence. The review will bring together the best available evidence on prevalence and prescribing; the nature and likely causes of dependence or withdrawal among some people who continue to take these medicines; and effective prevention and treatment responses for each indication.

The Government is currently developing its approach to the mandate to NHS England for 2018-19, in light of the extra £2.8 billion to 2019/20 provided through the Autumn Budget to support the NHS. Both NHS England and Healthwatch England are involved in its development as statutory consultees.