Record numbers of prescriptions doled out by the NHS last year – more than 1 billion
Data from NHS digital reveals that the issuing of various medications such as anti-depressants and opioid painkillers has risen by over 50 percent
RECORD numbers of prescriptions were doled out by the NHS last year, official figures show.
Doctors issued 1.1 billion in 2017 — up 39 per cent in a decade.
Analysis reveals use of medication for depression, high blood pressure and statins has soared, fuelling fears Britain has become a nation of pill poppers.
Data from NHS Digital shows demand for anti-depressants has doubled in ten years to 67.5 million prescriptions in 2017 — up from 33.8 million in 2007.
And the number of statins doled out has risen 53 per cent while high-blood pressure pills are up 33 per cent.
There were 78 per cent more strong opioid painkillers given compared to 2007, with nearly 24 million scripts last year.
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Yet deaths from opioid painkillers doubled from 500 in 2001 to 900 in 2011.
NHS doctor Dr Aseem Malhotra said: “Prescribed medications are estimated to be the third most common cause of death after heart disease and cancer.
“You can’t drug people into being healthy.”
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