Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2019 to Question 247598, on opioids: misuse, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of monitoring dependence and addiction rates in relation to commonly prescribed opioids; and if he will make a statement.

No assessment has been made of the potential merits of monitoring dependence and addiction rates in relation to commonly prescribed opioids.

Public Health England is undertaking a public health evidence review of available data and published evidence on the problems associated with some prescribed medicines, including dependence and withdrawal, including opioids. The review is due to report in summer 2019.