Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of illegal drug use during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government is monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 on illegal drug use and, working with law enforcement, will respond to any subsequent changes in the supply and demand for drugs. Public Health England (PHE) is also working with partners to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on drug use and drug-related harms.

It is important that local authorities maintain drug and alcohol treatment services during the COVID-19 pandemic. PHE is working with treatment providers to make sure that people who are drug and alcohol dependent get the support and treatment that they need. Guidance to support commissioners and providers of services for people who use drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic has been published and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-commissioners-and-providers-of-services-for-people-who-use-drugs-or-alcohol/covid-19-guidance-for-commissioners-and-providers-of-services-for-people-who-use-drugs-or-alcohol