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Written Question
Nitazenes: Misuse
Monday 15th January 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to tackle increases in the use of nitazenes (a) nationally and (b) in the South East England.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to monitor the use of nitazenes and other synthetic opioids and has taken action to tackle the threat they pose. In July 2023, a National Patient Safety Alert was issued to the National Health Service and others, warning of potent synthetic opioids implicated in heroin overdoses and deaths and actions that local areas should take. The Department of Health and Social Care is a core member of the cross-government Task Force to develop mitigations to the synthetic opioids threat. Membership of the task force also includes the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, National Crime Agency, HM Prisons and Probation Service, Border Force and the police. As part of those mitigations, the Department of Health and Social Care is accelerating its work to expand access to naloxone and developing a drugs surveillance and early warning system.

The Government is investing £780 million nationally between 2022/23 and 2024/25 through drug strategy funding to improve drug treatment and recovery systems which will focus on increasing the numbers in treatment for opiate use.

In the South East specifically, an additional £43.7 million has been allocated via the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery (SSMTR) Grant and £3.3 million for the Inpatient Detoxification Grant to improve drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems, totalling £47m. The following tables show indicative funding allocations for these grants for each area in the South East:

Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery (SSMTR) Grant

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Total

Bracknell Forest

£144,526

£147,375

£206,039

£497,940

Brighton and Hove

£1,142,490

£1,872,323

£3,613,294

£6,628,107

Buckinghamshire

£339,114

£345,800

£584,638

£1,269,552

East Sussex

£391,085

£1,741,085

£2,028,218

£4,160,388

Hampshire

£802,715

£818,541

£1,541,380

£3,162,636

Isle of Wight

£275,155

£280,580

£417,554

£973,290

Kent

£1,101,719

£2,202,986

£3,615,400

£6,920,105

Medway

£389,709

£418,172

£686,277

£1,494,159

Oxfordshire

£622,452

£634,724

£1,136,228

£2,393,403

Portsmouth

£503,741

£825,535

£1,593,156

£2,922,432

Reading

£413,221

£469,761

£770,942

£1,653,924

Slough

£266,434

£271,687

£277,256

£815,378

Southampton

£654,506

£1,072,611

£2,069,974

£3,797,091

Surrey

£721,703

£735,933

£1,500,381

£2,958,017

West Berkshire

£184,055

£187,684

£220,527

£592,265

West Sussex

£665,692

£678,817

£1,306,719

£2,651,228

Windsor and Maidenhead

£164,752

£168,000

£240,617

£573,368

Wokingham

£83,007

£84,644

£144,184

£311,835

Total

£8,866,076

£12,956,258

£21,952,784

£43,775,118

Inpatient Detoxification Grant

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Total

Bracknell Forest

£13,809

£13,809

£13,809

£41,427

Brighton and Hove

£96,016

£96,016

£96,016

£288,048

Buckinghamshire

£44,258

£44,258

£44,258

£132,774

East Sussex

£72,422

£72,422

£72,422

£217,266

Hampshire

£121,199

£121,199

£121,199

£363,597

Isle of Wight

£22,750

£22,750

£22,750

£68,250

Kent

£167,295

£167,295

£167,295

£501,885

Medway

£37,006

£37,006

£37,006

£111,018

Oxfordshire

£96,612

£96,612

£96,612

£289,836

Portsmouth

£48,132

£48,132

£48,132

£144,396

Reading

£41,625

£41,625

£41,625

£124,875

Slough

£23,991

£23,991

£23,991

£71,973

Southampton

£58,364

£58,364

£58,364

£175,092

Surrey

£106,099

£106,099

£106,099

£318,297

West Berkshire

£16,392

£16,392

£16,392

£49,176

West Sussex

£96,214

£96,214

£96,214

£288,642

Windsor and Maidenhead

£17,335

£17,335

£17,335

£52,005

Wokingham

£9,686

£9,686

£9,686

£29,058

Total

£1,089,205

£1,089,205

£1,089,205

£3,287,837

Further details of funding allocations for individual local authority areas are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extra-funding-for-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-2024-to-2025


Written Question
Diamorphine: Clinics
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2023 to Question 4319 on Diamorphine: Clinics, how many licenses have been obtained from his Department for the provision of Diamorphine Assisted Treatment in each of the last five years.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

Home Office domestic controlled drug premises licences are issued by the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU) to organisations for activities at individual premises in Great Britain. Licences are valid for a period of one year from the date of issue.

Organisations wishing to provide Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT), also referred to as Diamorphine Assisted Treatment, may also provide other treatment programmes involving controlled drugs, and in such cases they would apply for one licence for that premises for all services rather than a specific licence solely for HAT provision. Aggregate data on the number of each type of service expected to be delivered under Home Office licences issued is not routinely collected.

The below data provide estimates based on internal management information which has not been subject to quality assurance or audit, and therefore can only provide an indication of the numbers of licences where a HAT service is provided.

An indication of the number of licences including a HAT service, issued from 6 December 2018, up to and including 5 December 2023, is as follows:

2019-2

2020-1

2021-3

2022-3

2023- 2


Written Question
Diamorphine: Clinics
Monday 4th December 2023

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the effectiveness of Diamorphine Assisted Treatment in tackling drug-related crime.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

Diamorphine Assisted Treatment (DAT) is an option that remains open to local areas under the existing legal framework, and we support those areas who pursue this approach, where the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office. DAT is aimed at those who are already engaging with treatment but are not responding to opioid substitution therapy.

Evidence supporting the value of targeted injectable opioid treatment (“IOT”) programmes, including heroin/diamorphine assisted treatment (“DAT”), in both the UK and other countries has been published and informed the UK clinical guidelines for drug misuse and dependence, as well as guidance on commissioning and developing IOT services.

There is mixed evidence for the effectiveness of DAT in tackling drug-related crime compared with other forms of opioid substitution therapy. However, the crime reduction benefits of effective drug treatment, including IOT, is well documented and investing in improved capacity and quality of drug treatment services is an important part of the Government’s approach to reduce drug-related crime as is set out in the Drug Strategy.


Written Question
Cocaine
Wednesday 20th September 2023

Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Sheet 3 of the UK Border Force’s quarterly transparency data, updated on 24 August 2023, how many of the heroin seizures in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021 and (e) 2022 were consignments intercepted while attempting to enter the UK via the Channel ports.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

Border Force does not hold the data in an easily accessible format on how many of the cocaine seizures in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021 and (e) 2022 were consignments intercepted while attempting to enter the UK via the Channel ports.

The links for the main seizures publication can be found at Gov.UK: Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


Written Question
Diamorphine
Tuesday 8th November 2022

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to increase the provision of Diamorphine Assisted Treatment.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) or Diamorphine Assisted Treatment (DAT) is a clinical intervention supported by the 2017 United Kingdom-wide drug treatment guidelines. Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services, including whether to commission HAT services within its resources for drug treatment funding. The Government supports areas which pursue HAT, where the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office and in 2021, the former Public Health England provided additional guidance on commissioning and developing a HAT service.

The 10-year drug strategy is supported by £780 million, including £532 million for local authorities to invest in treatment and recovery services, in addition to the Public Health Grant. This allows local authorities to determine which interventions will complement existing treatments. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities provides oversight of local delivery and monitors implementation against the aims of the drug strategy.


Written Question
Heroin: Rehabilitation
Friday 4th November 2022

Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government has made on supporting areas to explore Heroin Assisted Treatment where there is a demonstrable need in line with the evidence as committed to in the Government's response to the Health Select Committee's 2019 report on Drugs Policy.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

Heroin assisted treatment (HAT) or diamorphine assisted treatment (DAT) is a clinical intervention supported by the 2017 United Kingdom-wide drug treatment guidelines. Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services, including whether to commission HAT services. Local authorities’ individual financial allocations and assessments of local need will determine if HAT is a viable intervention. The Government supports areas which pursue HAT where the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office. In 2021, the former Public Health England provided additional guidance on commissioning and developing a HAT service if local authorities choose this approach.

The 10-year drug strategy is supported by a new investment of £780 million, including £532 million for local authorities to invest in treatment and recovery services in addition to the Public Health Grant. This allows local authorities to determine which interventions could augment current treatment systems. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities provides oversight of local delivery and continues to monitor implementation against the aims of the drug strategy.


Written Question
Diamorphine
Friday 4th November 2022

Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of provision of diamorphine assisted treatment.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

Heroin assisted treatment (HAT) or diamorphine assisted treatment (DAT) is a clinical intervention supported by the 2017 United Kingdom-wide drug treatment guidelines. Local authorities in England are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services, including whether to commission HAT services. Local authorities’ individual financial allocations and assessments of local need will determine if HAT is a viable intervention. The Government supports areas which pursue HAT where the relevant licences are obtained from the Home Office. In 2021, the former Public Health England provided additional guidance on commissioning and developing a HAT service if local authorities choose this approach.

The 10-year drug strategy is supported by a new investment of £780 million, including £532 million for local authorities to invest in treatment and recovery services in addition to the Public Health Grant. This allows local authorities to determine which interventions could augment current treatment systems. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities provides oversight of local delivery and continues to monitor implementation against the aims of the drug strategy.


Written Question
Diamorphine: Middlesbrough
Thursday 27th October 2022

Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect on patients of the closure of the Diamorphine Assisted Treatment (DAT) clinic in Middlesbrough given that Project ADDER, in part, covers enhanced treatment and recovery services.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

As set out in our ten-year Strategy, this Government is committed to a whole-system approach to tackling drugs which gives people with an addiction access to treatment to assist recovery. The safety and wellbeing of patients receiving treatment is our top priority. Middlesbrough Council has assured us that all patients transitioning from Diamorphine/Heroin Assisted Treatment, following the local authority’s decision to close this service, have received bespoke transition planning to maintain safety and appropriate care.

Through Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) we have provided £4.58m in funding to Middlesborough between 2020-2023 to drive a one-system approach to tackling drugs. The Project ADDER approach brings together co-ordinated law enforcement activity, diversionary programmes and enhanced treatment and recovery provisions. Local funding decisions for the provision of treatment and recovery services are made by the local authority.


Written Question
Cannabis: Misuse
Wednesday 13th July 2022

Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy and effectiveness of delegated powers and resources of local authorities and police to tackle (a) the use of cannabis on private property and (b) its potential harms.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)

Possession of cannabis is illegal and anyone using it, regardless of location, is committing an offence. The police have a range of powers at their disposal to deal with drug-related offences, including tackling cannabis use in private properties and may, subject to a court ordered warrant, enter private properties where they suspect a person on the premises is in possession of cannabis and search the premises and any persons found therein. How police choose to pursue investigations is an operational decision for Chief Constables, but we are clear that we expect them to enforce the law.

Cannabis use poses a large number of health risks, including psychosis and respiratory disorders, and, after heroin and crack cocaine, is the most common drug that results in people seeking treatment. The Drug Strategy will invest £780 million to create a world-class treatment and recovery system and £533 million of this will be invested to rebuild local authority commissioned substance misuse treatment services in England.


Written Question
Prisons: Drugs
Wednesday 5th January 2022

Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish a breakdown of drug incidents in prison since 2010 by (a) drug type and (b) overall weight substances.

Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Figures showing the number of incidents where drugs were found in prisons by type of drug onwards are included in the following table from 2013-14 to 2020-21:

Number of incidents where drugs(1),(2),(3) were found in prisons in England and Wales by drug type and class

Number

12 months ending March

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

TOTAL INCIDENTS

4,469

6,332

9,621

10,666

13,118

18,325

21,575

20,295

Class A drug types:

Cocaine

75

89

108

128

167

1,216

1,966

2,083

Crack

8

12

29

26

42

48

49

59

Heroin

209

184

232

163

173

400

639

591

LSD

0

5

5

0

3

60

154

81

Methadone

-

-

7

20

23

24

32

26

Class A Total(4)

292

290

381

337

408

1,748

2,840

2,840

Class B drug types:

Amphetamines

63

48

60

55

66

199

273

435

Barbiturates

23

12

6

10

9

13

20

12

Cannabis

1,142

901

1,006

1,582

2,258

3,144

3,723

3,292

Cannabis Plant

328

239

186

181

258

328

408

287

Class B Total(4)

1,556

1,200

1,258

1,828

2,591

3,684

4,424

4,026

Class C drug types:

Benzodiazepines

-

-

23

22

34

92

95

115

Buprenorphine/Subutex

-

-

208

264

296

329

335

331

Steroids

-

-

383

659

593

581

475

372

Tramadol

-

-

20

23

33

33

86

89

Tranquilisers

23

25

25

19

29

29

30

31

Class C Total(4)

23

25

659

987

985

1,064

1,021

938

Prescription drug types:

Gabapentin

-

-

28

45

64

110

144

89

Pregabalin

-

-

42

80

159

219

273

203

Prescription drugs Total(4)

-

-

70

125

223

329

417

292

Psychoactive substances (5)

-

-

3,182

4,560

4,667

6,658

8,192

9,114

Other (6)

2,898

5,236

3,322

1,182

1,605

2,302

2,922

2,535

Unknown

-

-

1,645

3,087

3,930

4,380

4,362

2,607

Source: HMPPS Incident Reporting System

(1) A breakdown showing drug type for incidents where drugs were found in prisons was introduced in January 2013.

(2) A new incident type was introduced in October 2015. This added an additional 9 categories of drugs that are reportable which, prior to this period would have been reported under 'other'. The drug types which were added at this point are: Psychoactive substances, Benzodiazepines (included within tranquillisers), Buprenorphine, Gabapentin, Methadone, Pregabalin, Steroids, Tremadol and a category for when the drug type is unknown. This incident type also introduced the formal reporting of drug weight found in incidents so this is only available from this time.

(3) More than one type of drug can be found in a single incident, therefore the sum of the drug types found will be higher than the total incidents.

(4) Totals are the sum of the sub-categories within each section. As more than one type of drug can be found in a single incident, sum totals will include some incidents multiple times.

(5) In the Psychoactive Substances Act (2016) “psychoactive substance” means any substance which is capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it, and is not an exempted substance. Exempted substances are: controlled drugs, medicinal products, alcohol or alcoholic products, nicotine, tobacco products, caffeine or caffeine products or any substance which is ordinarily consumed as food, and does not contain a prohibited ingredient.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/2/contents

(6) The 'other' category may include drugs which would be presented in the other classifications but are not formally recorded so cannot be split out into these categories.

Figures showing the number of incidents where drugs were found in prisons, by drug type, are published from April 2016 onwards in the HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2020 to March 2021, table 9.2b (within the link below). A breakdown showing drug type for incidents where drugs were found in prisons was introduced in January 2013. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by type of drug prior to then, but the above table includes an additional breakdown of drug type between 2013-14 and 2015-16 that is not included within the published data.

Figures showing a breakdown of drug finds by drug weight are only available from October 2015 and are included within table 9.2d (within the link below):

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmpps-annual-digest-april-2020-to-march-2021

We’re spending £100m to bolster security and clamp down on illicit items such as drugs that fuel crime behind bars.