PHE to investigate prescription drug addiction

Public Health England is launching a review into the growing problem of prescription drug addiction.

NHS data suggests one in every 11 patients in England is being prescribed medication that could be addictive, or difficult to come off, including sedatives, painkillers and antidepressants.

PHE wants to avoid a situation like the one in the US, where there has been a huge increase in addition to opioids.

Prescribing of ‘addictive medicines’ - sedatives and painkillers - has increased by three per cent over five years, GP data for England suggests.

Steve Brine, public health minister, 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.”

Rosanna O’Connor, director of drugs, alcohol and tobacco at PHE, 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.”

Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “GPs will always prescribe in the best interests of the individual patient in front of us, taking into account the physical, psychological and social factors that might be impacting their health. We will only prescribe medication after a frank conversation with the patient about the potential risks and benefits, and we will also conduct regular medication reviews in partnership with patients.

"However, we know most patients would rather not be on long-term medication and where appropriate we will explore non-pharmacological treatments, but these - and this is particularly so for psychological therapies - are often scarce at community level.

"We hope that conclusions from this review will include highlighting the need for greater provision of and access to alternative treatments in the community - and for those patients who do become addicted to prescription medications to have easy, consistent, but also confidential access to appropriate, high-quality support.”