Hundreds of thousands of people across East Midlands hooked on prescription drugs

First report of its kind reveals worrying numbers of people on repeat prescription meds

Public Health England has, for the first time ever, released the results of a prescribed medicines review which highlights the dependence on and withdrawal from prescribed drugs across the country.

It shows the estimated proportions of people with a prescription in the month of March 2018 living in the East Midlands, as well as how many of those people have been receiving the prescription for at least a year. 

The report has delved into prescribing rates for antidepressants, opiate pain medicines, gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, and Z-drugs. 

Detailed analysis of the report by addiction treatment experts at UKAT shows that in just the month of March 2018, almost 700,000 people living across the East Midlands and part of the 19 CCG (Clinical Commissioning Groups) were issued a prescription for any of the above drugs. 

UKAT’s concern is for that over half of these patients- 369,625- have been repeatedly prescribed these highly addictive drugs for at least 12 months, and for some, perhaps even longer. 

Collective CCG’s across the East Midlands
	Number in receipt of prescription in March 2018	Of which, estimated to be issued at least 12 months (number)	Estimated to be issued at least 12 months (%)
Antidepressants	375,663	202,477	54%
Opioid pain medicines	192,492	98,083	51%
Gabapentinoids	67,672	36,524	54%
Benzodiazepines	34,159	17,172	50%
Z-drugs	28,353	15,369	54%
Public Health England data analysed by UKAT

Over 24,000 patients across Leicester City CCG and over 44,000 patients across South Derbyshire were issued a prescription for an antidepressant in March 2018, with 52% and 46% (respectively) of them having been issued the same prescription for at least 12 months prior. 

Over 18,000 patients part of the Lincolnshire East CCG were issued a dangerously addictive opiate pain relief drug in March 2018, with a worrying 57% having also been on the same prescription for at least 12 months.

UKAT – a group of rehabs which treat hundreds of patients for prescription drug addiction each year – welcomes Public Health England’s review and hopes that it will serve as a ‘serious wake up call’;

“This report shows us that thousands of people living across the East Midlands are crying out for help, and unfortunately, they’re being given plasters in the form of pills to solve their problems. Long-term use of these drugs, for the majority, will be ineffective because over time, the patient is likely to develop physical and psychological tolerance to the drug.” 

Officials at Public Health England have stated that long-term use on such a scale could not be justified and was a sign of patients becoming dependent. 

Nuno concludes; “These figures suggest to me that GP’s here are stretched and overwhelmed and need better support and investment to be able to offer alternative treatment therapies like talking therapy, yoga, exercise, diet, and acupuncture to better tackle their patients problems, instead of simply issuing a repeat prescription.”

Opiate prescription pain medicines can include codeine, morphine, fentanyl and Hydrocodone. 

Gabapentinoids (primarily gabapentin and pregabalin) are generally prescribed for epilepsy neuropathic pain. Pregabalin is also used for anxiety disorders. A recent study* explored the harms associated with the prescription of Gabapentinoids to adolescents and adults over 15 years old, which included suicidal behaviour, unintentional overdose, injuries, road traffic incidents, and violent crime.

Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, panic disorders and they act as muscle relaxants and include drugs like Xanax and Valium. Z-drugs are generally prescribed for sleep disorders and include zopiclone. 

For more information and support on prescription drug addiction, visit http://bit.ly/2lDJ3Aa