Announcement

There will be a short debate on tranquillisers in the House of Lords on Tuesday 3 November at 2.30 pm. It may be televised on the parliament channel or parliament website.

Early Day Motion

EDM 2164

WITHDRAWAL FROM PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
27.10.2009


Dobbin, Jim

That this House congratulates Pam Armstrong of the Council for Information on Tranquilliser and Anti-depressants and Doctor Ghosh Arun and the nursing staff at the Sefton Suite of the Aintree Hospital in Liverpool for setting up the first in-patient withdrawal facility for patients involuntarily addicted to prescription medication; congratulates Sandwell Primary Care Trust, Birmingham for partly funding this facility; further congratulates the Department of Health for undertaking a review of its policy on addiction to prescription medication; and urges the Department of Health to establish a national network of specialist out-patient clinics to treat those addicted to tranquillisers and other prescription medications, and regional in-patient clinics like the Sefton Suite for those too addicted to withdraw at home.

Letter to A Grosskurth, Dept. of Health

All Party Political Group on Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction

21 October 2009

Dear Ms. Grosskurth,

I understand that you are conducting a Department of Health policy review on addiction to prescription drugs. A large part of this problem is Involuntary tranquilliser addiction. I am chair of the APPG on Involuntary Tranquiliser Addiction, which was set up specifically to deal with this problem. We are campaigning, amongst other things ,for specialized tranquilliser withdrawal clinics and services designed to give involuntary tranquilliser addicts the opportunity to become drug free.

I would be very grateful if you would meet with me to discuss this issue. My diary secretary will be able to offer you some dates so that we can arrange a mutually convenient appointment. The telephone number is 0207 219 4530. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Jim Dobbin MP

Letter to Gillian Merron

APPG for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction

Gillian Merron MP
Department of Health

20 October 2009


Dear Gillian,

I would like to thank you on behalf of the APPGITA for your visit to the Oldham tranquilliser clinic and for the encouragement you gave to the patients and staff. I would like to meet with you to discuss the current review of Department of Health policy on addiction to prescription drugs. Involuntary tranquilliser addiction is a large part of the subject matter under review. This APPG was set up to deal specifically with the problem of ITA and we have access to experience and expertise on this subject.

Our campaign has been for specialist withdrawal clinics and services to be provided to deal with this problem and provide people with the opportunity to become drug free. I would like to be consulted at the political level on this subject and to be included in all consultations.


Kind Regards,
Jim Dobbin MP.

c.c.Phil Woolas MP.