Addictions: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help patients with a (a) history and (b) risk of addiction; and if he will take steps to identify that risk before addictive medication is prescribed.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
The government is committed to supporting those most vulnerable to experiencing harms from drugs and alcohol, and ensure they are supported to live healthier lives for longer. We are committed to ensuring that anyone with an illicit drug or alcohol dependency can access the help and support they need through evidence-based and high-quality treatment and recovery services.
The Department funds local authorities to deliver drug and alcohol treatment services through the Public Health Grant (PHG). In addition to the PHG, the Department allocated local authorities £267 million in 2024/25 to improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery.
When prescribing medication, clinicians are expected to work with patients to make decisions about their care and treatment as part of shared decision-making, including discussing risks, benefits, and possible consequences of different options through information-sharing.
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