Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop and launch a national helpline which is open 24 hours every day to support those affected by prescribed drug dependence; and whether such a service will be developed with the input of relevant charities and patient groups.

In September 2019, Public Health England published an evidence review on the problems of dependence and withdrawal associated with some prescribed medicines. The review recommended the Department considers supporting the development of a time-limited national helpline and associated website. NHS England and NHS Improvement are considering the recommendations from the review, including the recommendation for a helpline, and other evidence to develop a set of actions to reduce and treat prescription medicine dependency.