Blunket sets out plans to treat addicts

Guidance to advise specialist doctors when and how to prescribe heroin to the most entrenched drug users, will be published shortly, Home Secretary David Blunkett said today.

Speaking to an audience of GPs in Sheffield, Mr Blunkett said the National Treatment Agency would issue the guidance to ensure that all those with a clinical need were able to access appropriate treatment. Pilot programmes will then be established to help create a model of best practice to prescribe heroin.

Mr Blunkett said prescribed heroin, when used as part of a package of treatment, can help some of the most difficult to reach drug users manage their addiction and curb their criminal behaviour.

A small number of patients - 440 which equals 0.5% of opiate users in treatment - are currently being prescribed heroin. The new guidance, which offers doctors advice on prescribing injectable heroin and methadone, will help them assess the eligibility of drug users for prescriptions.

The Home Secretary said: "The challenge of the next decade is to take on the scourge of Class A drugs and the hard drug takers. Heroin addiction leads to the total disintegration of people's lives, the most entrenched and difficult drug abusers reach a level which they can't get out of.

"In 2001 we established the Pooled Treatment Budget to fund the expansion of treatment services and I want to make it clear to Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts that this is additional to, not instead of, funding already provided by the Department of Health. This brings the treatment budget alone to £503 million this year rising to £573 million in 2005/06.

"But we need to get away from the syndrome of receiving help and treatment only if you are already in trouble with the law. Last year 17% of people in treatment came through the criminal justice system, we will increase that number through a whole range of new interventions, but will continue to help all who cry for help."

The updated Drug Strategy, published last year, is supported by annual expenditure which will rise from just over £1 billion this financial year to nearly £1.5 billion from April 2005 - an increase of 44%.

(GMcG)