Lord urges more support for prescription-drug addicts

Wednesday 4th November 2009

The NHS must provide more support for people trying to break their addiction to antidepressants such as benzodiazepines, according to the Earl of Sandwich.

During a Lords debate on a Health Department review of addiction to medicines, he revealed that one of his own relatives is addicted to the drug.

Calling for a "proper NHS network of support", he said: "There are something like 1.5 million people addicted in the UK to prescribed drugs.

"A member of my own family is confined to his room. He is trying to withdraw from one of these drugs. He can't work, he can't take the children to school.

"There is no government benefit or assistance for people in this situation."

Baroness Thornton said the Health Department is undertaking a review of addiction to medicines which is expected to report next year.

"There are support areas available in some areas of the country," she said. "They have had a very good success rate in helping people withdraw from medicines to which they have become inadvertently addicted.

"But we recognise the availability of these services is variable and patchy."

Copyright © Press Association 2009

 

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