Drugs: Prescribed Drug Addiction

House of Lords written question – answered at on 18 March 2013.

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Photo of The Earl of Sandwich The Earl of Sandwich Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that after April 2013 the current National Treatment Agency guidelines designed for short-term users of prescribed benzodiazepines are updated to take account of long-term addiction and gradual withdrawal, as set out in the Ashton Manual.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The National Treatment Agency (NTA) does not issue clinical guidelines on drug treatment.

These are published by the department as Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management. Additional advice on the management of benzodiazepine and z-drug withdrawal is provided through the NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries, which reference the Ashton Manual. This advice will continue to remain available after April 2013.

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