Seven days in medicine: 15-21 May 2019
BMJ 2019; 365 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l2275 (Published 23 May 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;365:l2275
Opioids
Three actions are recommended for UK epidemic
Eytan Alexander, chief executive of UK Addiction Treatment Centres, said that the government must act immediately to control the opioid crisis in England and Wales, which saw related deaths rise by a third from 2011 to 2016. He recommended alternative pain therapies including acupuncture, yoga, and non-opioid relief. If an opiate is prescribed patients should be monitored closely and should not be repeatedly given these addictive drugs. He also recommended an automated, IT based process to flag when someone is overusing opioids.
Poverty
Welfare cuts leave families “unable to eat”
Human Rights Watch said that UK government cuts to welfare have left tens of thousands of families in England without enough to eat. Its report examines how welfare cuts and other systemic changes have left many families dependent on food aid from charities. The group said its findings prove that the government is in breach of its duty under human rights law to ensure people’s right to adequate food.
Violent crime
Merseyside launches public health approach
Clinicians, the police, and local government in Merseyside joined forces on a public health approach to prevent violent crime. Jane Kennedy, Merseyside’s police and crime commissioner, has appointed John Ashton, former regional director of public health for northwest England, to spearhead the scheme. Ashton told The BMJ that the strategy would be data driven and would track progress against a range of indicators including …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £184 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.