It is time to take deaths from opioids seriously

I read about the record number of deaths from drug poisoning in England and Wales with a heavy heart and a feeling of guilt.1 As doctors we are in part responsible; we are, however, also capable of contributing to the solution.Opioids are still being widely and incorrectly prescribed by many specialties (including my own) and in primary care in order to “do something.” Prescribing opioids in the long term is not appropriate in most cases and is not indicated for those whose life is not going well. We should not prescribe opioids to make ourselves feel better.There are now many community opioid reduction schemes, but offerings are variable. Some areas do not have a service and do not seem to take the problem seriously. Services in existence struggle to be seen as a priority in a crowded field and are often poorly supported.We can and need to do better. I…
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