Prescription Nation: Britain's hidden drug dependency
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 8 March 2024
⏱️ 27 minutes
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Summary
One in four drugs that are prescribed to adults in England are dependency-forming drugs. And while prescriptions for opioids have fallen following the epidemic in the US, two dependency-forming drug groups have seen prescriptions rise: pregabalin and antidepressants. Do we really understand how these drugs are affecting patients? Or are we sleep-walking into a new addiction crisis?
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If you've been prescribed any of the drugs mentioned in this podcast, do not stop taking your prescription without consulting your doctor first. And if you are concerned about dependence on prescription or other drugs, talk to your GP. If you’re having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600.
Guest: Venetia Menzies, Data and Digital Journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
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Transcript
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| 0:42.0 | Before we begin, a quick warning. If you've been prescribed any of the drugs mentioned in this |
| 0:49.5 | podcast, then please don't stop taking your medicine without consulting your doctor. |
| 0:57.0 | You hear horror stories of what it's like to try and come off addictive drugs, heroin, cocaine, crystal meth. |
| 1:11.0 | But this is the experience of someone coming off a drug prescribed by their doctor. |
| 1:17.0 | He used to wake me up at 10 to 5 every morning. |
| 1:22.0 | We stomach cramps after got a toilet. |
| 1:25.0 | Like someone is just laying bed and cry, you know because it just felt so intense. |
| 1:30.0 | Debbie Lou was prescribed. Thanks. It's a drug that's being prescribed more and more across the country. |
| 1:45.0 | It's not the only drug that is regularly prescribed by doctors that could be dependency forming. |
| 1:56.8 | I took four months to come off my antidepressant, |
| 1:59.4 | which was about four times slower |
| 2:01.9 | but the nice guidelines at the time recommended. |
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