Letters
Overprescribing and opioid crisis
Opioids are not just an American problem
BMJ 2017; 359 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j5514 (Published 06 December 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;359:j5514- Meghna Jani, NIHR academic clinical lecturer in rheumatology,
- William G Dixon, director and professor of digital epidemiology
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- meghna.jani{at}manchester.ac.uk
The rise in opioid prescriptions and mortality in the US1 has shone a light on similar concerns in the UK. Opioid prescriptions for non-cancer pain rose by about 60% in the UK from 2000 to 2010.2
With more use comes a larger burden of side effects, dependency, and divergence. The number of deaths related to opioid misuse in England and Wales …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.