Overdose deaths

[BCCoach]

I was horrified to read this article saying that accidental overdose deaths in the US have topped 100,000 for the first time, and fentanyl abuse is the leading culprit. On the basis that when the US sneezes the UK catches a cold, is this something that we can see coming to the UK in the future, or is the UK market in illicit drugs fundamentally different?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66826895

You need to watch painkiller on Netflix or dopesick on Disney. The opiate crisis in America was fuelled by big pharma- getting OxyContin classified as non addictive and offering kick backs to hospitals and gps to prescribe it (and in ever increasing doses) It's so difficult to wean off and once it's no longer prescribed or too expensive, people turn to alternatives such as fentanyl. It's not the same here.

The UK's drug problem landscape is very different. For example, we never really got their methamphetamine problem, nor did we get the same level of problems with prescribed opioids. Not to say we don't have drug problems, it's just that we don't automatically follow the US on this front. Different supply routes, different laws, different legal and healthcare setup, etc.

Thanks @melmonroe I was absolutely staggered by the numbers, a tenth of a million lives cut doesn’t bear thinking about. And apparently that number doesn’t even include deliberate overdoses.

I’ve watched both Dopesick and Painkiller ~and proofread dc’s dissertation on the opioid situation~ it’s alarming and sad but don’t agree it’s likely to come here.
We medicalise less- the very concept of ‘not taking painkillers’ is strong here in comparison to US
Regulation- again in the US you can buy for eg: melatonin in supermarkets and it’s advertised on tv, specifically for children. Paracetamol in tubs of 100, so many examples where as patients we’re protected by legislation.
Healthcare as a for profit industry- there’s just not the incentive for HCPs to prescribe or manufacturers to advertise.
Thank God, it really is a horrendous situation.

getting OxyContin classified as non addictive.

Apparently tramadol was originally marketed as non addictive.
You’d have thought that by now the pharmaceutical and medical professions would know there is no such thing as a non addictive opiate.

I’ve had tramadol for pain relief after a serious bike crash (fractures/lacerations/abrasions/de-gloving). Took one and never again. Awful dizziness and waking nightmares verging on psychotic hallucination. .

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid, it can cause seizures and other unpredictable things.

I don't think this is a trend that will follow through here.

The overmedicating in the US is absolutely tragic and it's because it's all a multi billion dollar money making scheme there. In the UK you would never be prescribed a whole bottle of the strongest painkillers on repeat.

I don't know how likely it is the same level of problem will come over here but I do know there are an increasing number of professionals being taught how to use and having access to Naloxone to try to reduce opioid deaths. I think there are also schemes for addicts and their loved ones to have training and access too.

I work in this field. We are highly concerned about Nitazenes at present. It is an extremely potent synthetic opioid which is being found mixed in with heroin. There have been a lot of cases in The Midlands area and some deaths. We are hoping it's contained to that area but it's unlikely and we are speaking to all service users about it. Naloxone is given out to all services users and is available in all the hostels we work with in our area, all service users and hostel staff are trained in its administration. All staff are also trained in the administration of Naloxone and I know in at least my team we all carry a Naloxone kit on our person at all times.

@youspinmerightround22 that's very worrying, I found this: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/west-mercia/news/2023/september/drug-users-warned-about-dangerous-synthetic-opioids/

I watched Dopesick and that was an eye opener.
I was pretty clueless about painkiller addiction .