The APPG for Prescribed Drug Dependence has now been reformed for the 2019 parliament with Danny Kruger MP as chair, Lord Crisp as co-chair, and the Council for Evidence-based Psychiatry (CEP-UK) providing the secretariat. Minutes of the inaugural meeting are available under the ‘minutes’ tab.
The group will continue to focus on recognising, addressing and reducing the harm caused by prescribed drug dependence. Specifically, following the publication of the PHE report in 2019, it supports the urgent implementation of a 24-hour helpline and website, and new local dedicated services to support people dependent on prescribed drugs.
The APPG therefore welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the work of NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) as a key stakeholder representing patients’ interests, and has had several constructive meetings with its leaders. NHSEI are considering how services might be commissioned alongside recommendations of how they should operate. Members of the APPG secretariat are contributing to this work, based on input from representatives from existing dedicated withdrawal services, relevant academics and those with lived experience of prescribed drug dependence.