News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Over-the-counter drug addiction is becoming more prevalent than HEROIN , new research has revealed.

Admissions to top UK rehabilitation facilitator UKAT for prescription and over-the-counter drug addiction risen by 22 per cent because “nobody knows the warning signs”.

Data released by the UK Addiction Treatment (UKAT) Centres shows that in the last two years admissions across their six UK-wide treatment centres for over-the-counter painkillers such as codeine, and Benzodiazepines (also known as Benzo’s) prescribed by GPs has risen by 17 per cent.

At current rates that will soon overtake admissions for alcohol and ‘harder’ drug addiction.

Therapists at UKAT are calling on Government to ‘exercise their authority’ and implement better systems of education on the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter abuse, warning that “nobody knows the warning signs” and that “there is a very real situation at large”.

(Image: PA)

In the last six months, UKAT has admitted 48 people for either Codeine or Benzodiazepine addiction, compared to just 26 for Cannabis and 17 for Gambling/Gaming Addiction.

Cross-addiction such as alcohol and cocaine represents 64 per cent of all admissions to UKAT centres.

UKAT admits 140 addicts for treatment per month, six per cent of which are for over-the-counter drug or prescription drug addiction.

When in treatment, those with addiction to pharmaceutical drugs can typically take between four to six weeks to become ‘clean’, whereas someone misusing Heroin can be safely off it within half the time.

Experts at UKAT say that this is because of the intensity of the drug and the severe side-effects experienced when treating over the counter and prescription drug addiction.

When Doctors no longer issue prescription drugs to patients, those addicted take any action required in order to get their fix- mostly turning to buying them off the internet.

Cost is also a huge factor in the rise of Benzo addiction. The street value of Diazepam, per pill, is less than £1, whereas a 0.1g bag of heroin is ten times that at £10 per hit.

(Image: PA)

However, because of the potency of Diazepam and other Benzo drugs, tolerance increases at a much faster rate than that of ‘hard’ substances, resulting in overuse and addiction.

Eytan Alexander, founder of UK Addiction Treatment Centres, believes that until people’s mindset changes about prescription and over the counter drugs, the number of those addicted will continue to rise.

He said: “People believe that if they’re prescribed a drug or if they can buy it in their local corner shop, then they’re not an addict.

“We still admit people into our treatment centres who remain completely unaware that they have an addiction problem to Codeine or Benzo drugs, because they get them from their doctor, making it completely legal.

(Image: PA)

“The fact of the matter is that in most cases, the recommended dosage and length of time of consumption is exceeded, meaning that person is now a drug abuser, regardless of the ‘legality’ of the drug in question.

“We know through our own treatment and therapy practices that most addicts are forced into continuing to take Codeine or Diazepam, for example, simply to cope with the horrific side effects of going cold turkey.

“And because a person’s pain is subjective, requests for repeat prescriptions aren’t challenged or explored anywhere near enough, and that now ‘addict’ continues to fly underneath the radar.

“It’s currently a hugely vicious cycle but, with support from the newly-elected Government, one that we can break with better education, advice and support.”