UK’S 2,700 opiate hits an hour... dished out by doctors
Perils of patients hooked on easy-to-get painkillers
Family doctors have been accused of handing out addictive painkillers “as if they were Smarties”. Last year, 23.8million NHS prescriptions of potentially habit-forming opiates such as codeine were dished out in Britain – 2,700 an HOUR.
Though given by GPS for legitimate ailments – period pain, headache and chronic conditions – many patients complain of becoming addicted, with little support getting off the drugs.
Thousands – like Nicki Hari, pictured – buy over-the-counter packs of co-codamol after finishing their prescribed supply.
Co-codamol – a mixture of codeine and paracetamol – is banned without a prescription in America and Australia.
The UK’S analgesics market is worth an annual €240million and shoppers can pick up a packet in any pharmacy. In Boots, 32 co-codamol pills cost just €3.
While very effective for pain control, bringing relief in just 30 minutes, opiates produce a “high”.
Codeine belongs to the same group of drugs as tramadol, morphine and heroin – derived from the opium poppy.
ABUSE
It has been labelled a “gateway drug” because it can pave the way to serious substance abuse.
In 2016, there were a record 3,744 deaths in England and Wales related to drug misuse. Of those, 2038 were from opiates including heroin and methadone.
Latest Office for National Statistics figures also flag up a rising number of deaths from prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Celebrities who became hooked on painkillers include TV host Ant Mcpartlin, 42, who used them after a knee op went wrong.
Former addict Nicki Hari, 50, was given her first codeine dose at just 14 after having her tonsils out.
The mum of two says: “Knowing what I know now, I cannot believe how easily doctors gave me codeine – like Smarties. I had no idea I was an addict for years.”
Over 25 years, Nicki had a string of knee ops and was given shortterm doses of codeine in hospital.
The prescriptions were followed up with hassle-free repeats at her GP practice. When she finished her prescribed tablets before the next batch was due, Nicki topped up with low-dose over-thecounter co-codamol, exceeding the recommended daily intake.
She says: “I was popping pills every two hours and had them in my desk, bathroom, kitchen and car. If I didn’t have some in reach, I went into a complete panic.”
And Nicki, now an admissions counsellor with leading addiction rehab firm UK Addiction Treatment (ukat.co.uk), recalls horrific withdrawal symptoms. They included body aches, joint pain, night sweats, tremors, palpitations, insomnia and deep anxiety.
Nicki, of Borehamwood, Herts, explains: “The first time, I went to the GP who diagnosed flu and advised paracetamol. I was given more codeine too. I was on it at least five years before anybody mentioned it could be addictive.
“I was taking 15 pills a day but had no idea I was a drug addict. I was a housewife, two kids, a job, but I was hooked.”
In the UK, packets containing codeine warn the pills are addic-
tive and shouldn’t be taken for more than three days. Many are unaware that once codeine is ingested, a liver enzyme breaks it down into morphine. Sideeffects include drowsiness, constipation, nausea and respiratory issues. These lessen over long-term use but so does the level of pain relief – driving patients to higher doses.
Nicki’s family took her to rehab after she drove her car into a skip on the school run.
Eytan Alexander, founder of UKAT, says addiction “is a very real crisis in the UK”.
He adds: “Short GP appointments, a lack of awareness and stigma attached to overusing prescriptions drugs make it easy for addiction to manifest. “Anyone who thinks they may have a problem should seek support immediately.” A recent study found 30 per cent of those dependent on codeine admitted to faking or exaggerating symptoms to get a prescription. GP Dr Maria Finnegan says: “I think it’s fair for low-dose codeine to be available over the counter as the vast majority of people use it responsibly. Prescriptions for higher doses are now tightly monitored.
“GPS have done huge amounts of work to review patients’ use of codeine and other opioids and, where appropriate, help people off them. However, these figures are very worrying.”
actiononaddiction. org.uk offers information and support
I was taking 15 pills a day. I was a housewife with two kids and a job and had no idea I was a drug addict
NICKI HARI ON FIVE-YEAR CODEINE ADDICTION