NHS takes on menace of super-strong painkillers

Save the prescription pill victims

NEW rules on prescribing powerful painkillers are to be brought in for GPs, in a victory for the Daily Mail. The move comes amid a rise in dependence on prescription drugs – with fears that Britain could follow the US which is in the throes of an opioid epidemic.

One in 11 UK patients are prescribed potentially addictive drugs such as sedatives and painkillers – an increase of 50 per cent since 2000.

Gillian Leng, of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, said: ‘NICE has been asked to develop a guideline covering safe prescribing of drugs associated with dependence and the management of withdrawing from these drugs.’

Problems often arise when patients receive post-operative drugs, which they then remain on for months or years.

Professor Leng said: ‘With an average of five opioid-related deaths reportedly in the UK each day, and growing concerns about dependence on prescription drugs, our recommendations will help drive improvements.’

The watchdog’s advice will make clear to GPs the dangers of prescribing opioids and other addictive substances, outlining how to help patients off the drugs.

The Daily Mail, along with charities and MPs, has been campaigning for two years for the Government to take action over the crisis.

The move was welcomed by doctors, including Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs.

She said the guidelines ‘should offer support to prescribing healthcare professionals, particularly in terms of alternatives when developing a treatment plan’.

However, she added that GPs would face a lack of alternatives for addressing chronic pain, which could put them ‘in an extremely difficult position’.

There is currently no specific support for patients addicted to prescription medication, despite extensive resources for people abusing illegal drugs.