Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what schemes and measures are currently in place to enable other agencies to work alongside police in combating prescription drug abuse.

Local authorities and the National Health Service work together and with other agencies to assess local needs, prevent problems with prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and commission responses for people dependent on those medicines.

Designated healthcare organisations are required to appoint a Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO) to investigate concerns about prescribing and supply of medicines, and to share findings with the Local Intelligence Network (a partnership of key organisations to review and respond to controlled drug concerns).

Services prescribing and/or dispensing controlled prescription drugs are required to liaise with their local CDAO and contribute to their Local Intelligence Network.