Services to treat dependence are commissioned locally. Information about whether dedicated or integrated services are commissioned is not collected centrally. Clinicians treating addiction to medicine are

expected to follow the “UK guidelines on clinical management of drug misuse and dependence” and other relevant guidance.

Drug free goals are the norm for this form of treatment. Local areas should assess clinical guidelines and develop local protocols for clinicians in that area to help them reduce doses safely and comfortably for each individual patient.

The Department's policy is that the names of officials should be withheld from disclosure unless they are members of the senior civil service or have a high profile that would justify release. We are accordingly withholding the information requested. The annual accounts of the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse for 2011-12 list the organisation's executive directors and are available at:

www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/ntaannualaccounts2011-12.pdf

The Department retains oversight of policy on addiction to medicines. For information about the providers of locally-commissioned services, the hon. Member should approach the relevant local commissioner.

Primary care trusts, not the National Treatment Agency, are currently responsible for commissioning specialist services for the treatment of dependency. This responsibility will transfer to local authorities from April 2013. An individual patient who is worried that they are addicted to a prescription medicine should raise the issue with the prescribing doctor, so that they can have a discussion about the help that they might need.

The Government's Drug Strategy published in December 2010 made clear that we are determined to tackle dependence on any substance including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, alcohol and illicit drugs.

The Action Plan for 2012-13 for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) requires it to continue to support the development and delivery of effective local recovery-orientated systems. Such services, which could include provision by the voluntary sector, are commissioned at a local level, and the information requested about them is not collected centrally. The NTA's activities are informed by professional advice from a wide range of sources.

Funding for the treatment of addiction to medicine is not separately identified in the money that the Department allocates to local areas for commissioning services. Clinicians treating addiction to medicine are expected to follow the United Kingdom guidelines on clinical management of drug misuse and dependence and other relevant guidance. Departmental officials have been working with the Royal College of General Practitioners to develop further training and guidance in preventing and treating addiction to medicine.

Voluntary organisations which wish to seek funding direct from the Department need to apply to the Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund. The deadline for registering an intention to apply for 2013-14 funding was 7 September.