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Clinical Negligence Solicitors

Doctors call for a helpline for prescription drug addicts (7 November 2016)

Date: 07/11/2016
Duncan Lewis, Clinical Negligence Solicitors, Doctors call for a helpline for prescription drug addicts

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for a 24-hour helpline to be introduced to help patients addicted to prescription drugs.

The BMA is becoming increasingly worried about people becoming dependent on strong painkillers and tranquilisers. The use of Benzodiazepines Anxiolytics, which are taken for insomnia, severe anxiety and sometimes pain relief, are a particular concern for practitioners due to their extremely addictive nature.

Benzodiazepines include Valium, Xanax and Prosom. They work by releasing chemicals in the brain that creates a calming, sleepy effect and a relaxation of muscles.

A report by BMA created in November 2013 stated that the association was “concerned that patients with long-term addictions could suffer conditions such as confusion, toxic psychosis and convulsions.”

Public Health England has issued a statement stating that it is supporting local services in an attempt to address drug addiction issues.

The BMA’s GP clinical and prescribing policy lead, Dr Andrew Green, stated: “Establishing a national helpline should be a top priority to provide better service to individuals with prescribed drug dependence”. He added: “Patients have not had their problems adequately recognised in the past and we need to put that right.”

A finalised publication of recommendations by the BMA will be issued on Monday. It will attempt to give clear guidance to practitioners in order to help people manage and cut down on non-vital prescription medications.

The BMA recommends:


  • The UK government should introduce a national 24 hour helpline for prescribed drug dependence

  • The UK governments, “relevant health departments and local authorities should establish, adequately resourced specialist support services for prescribed drug dependence.”

  • Clear guidance on how to help patients withdraw from addictive prescription pills should be developed with help from medical professions and patients.



Drug dependence is a serious issue affecting every day of a dependent’s life. Patients can be distraught that a medication they believed would cure their illnesses has in fact harmed them in other ways.

NHS Digital, the Health and Social Care Information Centre, figures demonstrated that over 10 million prescriptions for Benzodiazepines were issued last year in England alone. This accounts to 0.9% of all prescriptions dispensed in 2015.

Government guidance has warned that Benzodiazepines should be used for a maximum of four weeks in an attempt to reduce the risk of dependency. Warnings should also be provided as to the addictive nature of the drugs.

However, a BMA report last year stated that practitioners are prescribing these highly addictive drugs for longer than the recommended four weeks. Dr Green has criticised this saying that the drugs are effective “but only for a short period of time.” Thus, issuing such medication long term allegedly makes them progressively more ineffective and increases the risk of dependency.

He added: "When patients try and come off, they get withdrawal syndrome and that encourages them to keep taking them and doctors sometimes prescribe them longer than they ought to."

A spokesperson for the Department of Health has already commented on these recommendations stating that a helpline already exists and concerned citizens can call 111 or use the online NHS Choices service. He also commented that FRANK provides advice on how to “access specialist drug treatment services, including services which help people who have dependence on a medicine prescribed to them.”

However, a spokeswoman from a Northern Ireland Department of Health has stated: “We welcome the publication of the recommendations by the BMA, which we will consider in light of the work already under way on this issue and look at what further action can be taken locally."

Rebecca Thomas, Director of Clinical Negligence at Duncan Lewis, states “the fact that the BMA have called for the urgent establishment of a national helpline to support patients with prescribed drug dependence suggests that the BMA consider the existing helpline services are insufficient for these particular patients. It is of concern that the Department for Health may not adopt the BMA’s recommendations on the basis that helpline services already exist. The extent of those with prescribed drug dependence should not be underestimated and the Government’s current refusal to introduce such a service is short-sighted and will ultimately lead to greater costs for the NHS”.

Rebecca Thomas is Director of Clinical Negligence at Duncan Lewis. Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in her field and represents clients in a wide range of cases including claims involving cosmetic and dental negligence, surgical and orthopaedic injuries arising from delay , misdiagnosis or negligent spinal surgery, gastrointestinal and ophthalmic surgery.

Duncan Lewis’ broad clinical negligence practice handles a vast array of claims, from accident and emergency failures to GP negligence claims, to misdiagnosed fractures to wrongful death matters. Duncan Lewis’ Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in claims for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals. They also act for clients in cases arising from obstetric, neo-natal, paediatric, anaesthetic, neurological, spinal, surgical, cardiac and emergency care and consequent disability resulting from these.

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