KILL PAIN WITHOUT PILLS

ALMOST HALF THE UK POPULATION WILL SUFFER FROM CHRONIC PAIN AT SOME POINT, SO IT’S NO SURPRISE ADDICTION TO PAINKILLERS IS ON THE RISE. INVESTIGATES THE ALTERNATIVES

Ashocking report has revealed that 2,000 people in England and Wales die every year from overdose following addiction to opioid painkillers – up more than 20 per cent over the previous five years. Presenter Ant Mcpartlin famously battled painkiller addiction in 2017, while both singer Prince and Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher’s deaths were linked to opioid use.

Over-prescription as well as illicit trade in the highly addictive drugs, including codeine, morphine and methadone, are at the root of the

“crisis”, said the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which published the data in May 2019. It blamed aggressive marketing tactics by drug companies which “downplay” the problems.

Chronic pain – defined as pain that persists longer than three months – affects around 28 million people in the UK at some point in their lives, according to a study conducted by Imperial College London.

Opioids, or opiates, are normally prescribed by doctors to treat pain associated with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, back pain and following surgery. They can be very effective short-term but, when taken for longer than prescribed or when abused, they can cause severe harm.

Referencing the rise in painkiller-related deaths, Professor John Strang, head of the addictions department at King’s College London, warns, “This marked increase in avoidable mortality must be recognised as a public health crisis.” Here, we look at safer methods to ease pain…