Website of the Department of Health

To support improvements in the quality of drug treatment, in 2007 the Department of Health together with the other UK administrations published updated Guidelines on the Clinical Management of Drug Dependence.  The 2007 Guidelines are intended for all clinicians providing treatment of drug misuse in the UK.  They are based on the most up-to-date evidence on how to provide drug treatment for patients.

The National Treatment Agency (NTA) has published best practice guidelines on the commissioning and delivery of drug treatment in Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: Update 2006.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the treatment and care of drug misusers (see below).

The Department of Health, NTA and NICE guidance provide the most comprehensive information on treating drug misuse that has ever been available.  

• Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management. Department of Health (England) and the devolved administrations (2007) (opens new window)
• Download Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: Update 2006, National Treatment Agency (PDF, 882K)
• NICE Guidelines on Drug Misuse: Opioid Detoxification, July 2007 (opens new window)
• NICE Guidelines on Drug Misuse: Psychosocial Interventions, July 2007 (opens new window)
• NICE Guidance on Interventions to Reduce Substance Misuse Among Vulnerable Young People, March 2007 (opens new window)
• NICE Guidance on the use of methadone and buprenorphine for opioid dependence, January 2007 (opens new window)
• NICE Guidance on the use of Naltrexone for the management of opiod dependence, January 2007 (opens new window)
• National Treatment Agency Clinical Guidance (opens new window)