Public Health England is launching a review into the "growing problem" of prescription drug addiction. NHS data suggest one in every 11 patients in England is being prescribed medication that could be addictive, or difficult to come off. This includes sedatives, painkillers and antidepressants. PHE wants to avoid a situation like the one in the US, where there's been a massive increase in addiction to opioids.
The hell of my prescription drug withdrawal The prescription drug flooding the UK Why opioids are such an American problem The review, which will take a year, will cover: sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs known as benzodiazepines and z-drugs (zolpidem and zopiclone) painkillers called opioids, pregabalin and gabapentin (the latter two are also used to treat epilepsy) antidepressants While antidepressants are not addictive, some patients experience difficulties when they try to stop taking them. Prescribing of "addictive medicines" - sedatives and painkillers - has increased 3% over five years, GP data for England suggests. Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: "We know this is a huge problem in other countries like the United States - and we must absolutely make sure it doesn't become one here. "While we are world-leading in offering free treatment for addiction, we cannot be complacent."
Director of drugs, alcohol and tobacco at PHE, Rosanna O'Connor, said: "It is of real concern that so many people find themselves dependent on or suffering withdrawal symptoms from prescribed medicines. Many will have sought help for a health problem only to find later on they have a further obstacle to overcome." Experts say many prescriptions will be appropriate and people should not come off their medication without speaking to their doctor.
source: www.bbc.com
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