Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007 - Drug Misuse Information ...

Prescriptions
B2
Prescriptions
Key Points 2006/07
Overview
Methadone hydrochloride (methadone mixture) is the most commonly used pharmacological treatment for
opioid dependency in Scotland. It is used primarily for the treatment of drug addiction. Tables B2.1 and B2.2
list other drugs which are sometimes used for the treatment of opioid dependence. Some of these are also
commonly prescribed for non-drug misusing patients. It is not possible to assess what proportion of these
prescriptions were for the purposes of treating drug dependence.
■ In Scotland in 2006/07 there were 489,447 prescriptions for methadone mixture, around 96
prescriptions per 1,000 population (Table B2.3).
■ The cost of dispensing methadone mixture (dispensing fees and ingredients) for Scotland in 2006/07 was
£12,683,660 around £2,479 per 1,000 population (Table B2.4).
■ Diazepam, dihydrocodeine and temazepam were prescribed at, respectively, rates of 163, 85 and 72
prescriptions per 1,000 population in 2006/07. Buprenorphine was prescribed at a rate of 9
prescriptions per 1,000 population (Table B2.1).
■ In 2006/07 87% of methadone prescriptions in Scotland were dispensed in instalments (Table B2.5).
Services & Treatment
Five year trends - 2002/2003 to 2006/07
■ The cost of methadone mixture prescriptions has seen an overall increase of 17% between 2002/03 and
2006/07 (£10,855,585 rising to £12,683,660). However, the highest cost over the period was in
2004/05 (£12,935,828). It then fell in 2005/06 to £12,200,215 before rising again in 2006/07 (Table
B2.4).
■ Methadone prescribing rates have risen by 35% over the last five years, from 71 per 1,000 population in
2002/03 to 96 per 1,000 population in 2006/07 (Table B2.2).
■ The rate of prescribing of dihydrocodeine has remained relatively stable between 2002/03 and 2006/07.
The rate of prescribing of buprenorphine has increased from 2 to 9 prescriptions per 1,000 population
between 2002/03 and 2006/07. Diazepam prescribing rates rose by 9% between 2002/03 and 2005/06
(150 to 163 prescriptions per 1,000 population). The only decrease over the time period was in
temazepam prescribing which fell by 16% from 86 to 72 prescriptions per 1,000 population (Table B2.2).
Geographical profile
■ Methadone prescription rates vary across Scotland from 180 per 1,000 population in NHS Ayrshire and
Arran to 16 per 1,000 population in NHS Borders (Table B2.1).
■ NHS Tayside is the only area which has seen a decrease in the rate of methadone mixture prescribing
between 2002/03 and 2006/07, from 56 to 38 prescriptions per 1,000 population. The rate increased
in all other areas (Table B2.3).
■ The cost of methadone mixture fees and ingredients per 1,000 population varies across Scotland. The
cost was highest in Ayrshire and Arran (£4,121 per 1,000 population), Greater Glasgow and Clyde
(£3,927 per 1,000 population) and Lothian (£3,480 per 1,000 population) (Table B2.4).
■ The percentage of methadone mixture prescriptions dispensed in instalments varied across Scotland. It
was highest in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Shetland with 91% of prescriptions dispensed
by instalment. It was lowest in Orkney where only 47% of methadone mixture prescriptions were
dispensed by instalment (Table B2.5).
Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007
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