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Face the Facts: Prescribed Addiction

27/07/2011

Prescribed Addiction

BBC Radio 4 - Face the Facts, Prescribed Addiction

The "scandal" that has left up to 1.5 million people addicted to prescription drugs.

John Waite investigates the 'scandal' that has left up to 1.5 million people addicted to drugs prescribed to them by their GPs, with little support to withdraw.

Prescribed Addiction: John Waite investigates the "scandal" that has left up to 1.5 million people addicted to drugs prescribed to them by their GPs. Experts in the field tell us that addicts to benzodiazepine tranquillizers, the most popular of which are diazepam and temazepam, far outnumber those addicted to illegal drugs. There's evidence that some family doctors are ignoring guidleines by prescribing the drugs for much longer than is recommended, while successive Governments are accused of turning a blind eye to the problem and offering little by way of treatment to the victims who want to withdraw.

Producer: Kathryn Takatsuki.

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