NHS figures have shown that the prescriptions for the drug diazepam (also known as Valium) has increased by more than 11% in three years and is now being dispensed almost five million times a year in England. As an addictive drug, the Royal College of General Practitioners has said that GPs should refrain from prescribing Valium and instead, should be referring those suffering from anxiety to counselling. Valium is usually prescribed to patients for stress and anxiety but GPs are encouraged to only allow for short-term use.

A professor of the RCGP said he was “shocked” by the figures and another from the Royal College of Psychiatrists is worried that Valium is being prescribed in a way that it shouldn’t be.

The National Audit Office’s latest report, “Tackling Problem Drug Use”, shows that the cost of providing effective drug treatment to addict individuals has decreased by 20% in the last five years.  The total funding for treatment per adult in effective treatment stands at £3,000 compared to £3,700 in 2007 which is a 23% fall.

CEO of the National Treatment Agency, Paul Hayes, states: “Anyone who now needs treatment can get it quickly, and record numbers of drug users are receiving help. The numbers dropping out of treatment early are falling, the numbers staying in long enough to benefit are rising, and the numbers successfully completing treatment for dependency are increasing year on year. We have always known that society benefits from effective drug treatment because it cuts crime, improves public health and fosters stable family relationships. We can now demonstrate how the treatment system has risen to the challenge of delivering greater productivity for taxpayers as well.”

NHS’ National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse (NTA) released last week the results of a new study relating to cocaine users in treatment.  According to the research, 10% of drug users in treatment in England are in treatment for cocaine (powder) addiction.  This is a 4% increase in four years.  70% of those who continued treatment either stopped consumption or reduced their use within six month. Click here to read the full report.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with NHS London has confirmed a positive anthrax case in a heroin user in London and is currently in hospital for treatment.  Such organisations cannot stress enough the importance of taking precautionary measures when taking heroin and have advised to cease consumption if possible.

Chronic liver disease, associated with excessive alcohol consumption, has trebled amongst Scots in the last 15 years.  The latest figures place Scotland as the 2nd-highest country in Europe, after Hungary.  The NHS released yesterday that 1,059 deaths were caused by this disease.