Department of Health
Central Government
Noted
The Department of Health states that the classification of Pentobarbital is a matter for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), not the Department of Health, and advises redirecting the letter. They continually monitor trends in suicide data and take action to reduce access to means of suicide. (AI summary)
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Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP Minister of State for Community Social Care Department of Health Richmond House 79 Whitehall Senior Coroner London SWIA ZNS Coroner's Office Tel: 020 7210 4850 St Blaise Buildings, Bromley Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, 0 4 JUL 2016 Bromley BRI 3UH M M, Yjns , Thank you for your letter of 3 2016, following the inquest into the death of Darren Mindham: I was SOrTy to hear of Mr Mindham's death and wish to extend my condolences to his family: Your concern in this case focuses 0n the classification of the Pentobarbital, under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001,and its subsequent availability and use as means of suicide. Evidence shows that reducing access to the means of suicide can be effective in reducing the rate of suicide. You have suggested that Pentobarbital could be subject to the stricter controls applied to drugs found in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. This is not however a matter for the Department of Health: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) makes recommendations to government on the control of dangerous O otherwise harmful including classification and scheduling under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its regulations ACMD is an advisory non- departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office and is the lead organisation in this area_ would therefore advise that you re-direct your Regulation 28 letter to the following contact for a response on this matter: ACMD Secretariat clo Home Office Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Secretariat Ist floor; NE Quarter; Peel Building 2 Marsham Street London SWIP 4DP With regard to methods of suicide, the Department of Health continually monitors trends in suicide data. Where we identify an increase in a particular method of suicide and May drug drugs;_
or observe a new method emerging, we will take appropriate action to reduce access to the means of suicide. One example where we have been successful is in reducing access to paracetamol as a means of suicide: Of course, other drugs are also used in suicide. We continue to have discussions with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency about practical steps that could be taken in relation to medicines used in suicide: I hope that this reply is helpful and Iam grateful to you for bringing the circumstances of Mr Mindham's death to my attention: V J+ (n ALISTAIR BURT 4j )
or observe a new method emerging, we will take appropriate action to reduce access to the means of suicide. One example where we have been successful is in reducing access to paracetamol as a means of suicide: Of course, other drugs are also used in suicide. We continue to have discussions with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency about practical steps that could be taken in relation to medicines used in suicide: I hope that this reply is helpful and Iam grateful to you for bringing the circumstances of Mr Mindham's death to my attention: V J+ (n ALISTAIR BURT 4j )