This site is intended for Healthcare Professionals only

opioids

sukhi-basra-2025-1280

CPE committee member calls for national pharmacy deprescribing service

Sukhi Basra said pharmacists were already deprescribing “informally” and should be funded for it.

07 Nov 2025 , 1 Min Article

Opioids 1280.jpg

Figures show 16.5 million items for dependency-forming drugs prescribed in Q.1

The NHS Business Services Authority said 4.37 million patients in England were prescribed the medicines between April and June 2025.

15 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

overdose-2024-1280

Drug misuse deaths in Scotland falls – but opioids the most common cause

The National Records of Scotland said the number of deaths fell to its lowest figure since 2017.

05 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

Opioids 1280.jpg

Items prescribed for dependency-forming medicines fell from 2016-17 to 2024-25

The number of patients prescribed the medicines fell by 14 per cent, going from 8.1 million in 2016-17 to seven million in 2024-25.

31 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

Opioids 1280.jpg

Almost 17m items for dependency-forming medicines prescribed in second quarter

Opioids were the most prescribed in quarter two of 2024-25 with 9.85 million items.

10 Dec 2024 , 1 Min Article

Opioids 1280.jpg

Number of items prescribed for dependency-forming medicines in England falls

NHS Business Services Authority said 7.1 million patients were prescribed the medicines, a 13 per cent decrease from 2015-16.

05 Sep 2024 , 1 Min Article

co-codamol-summary

Suspended sentence for pharmacist who illegally sold prescription opioids

Belfast pharmacist who could not explain drug register discrepancies spared jail

02 Jul 2024 , 1 Min Article

sleeping-tablets-summary

Online zopiclone sales contributed to veteran’s death, says coroner

Coroner issues damning criticism of companies selling medicines online.

19 Jun 2024 , 2 Min Article

gabapentin-summary

Gabapentinoid prescribing rises two per cent in a year

NHS BSA publishes latest report on dependency forming medicines in England

07 Sep 2023 , 1 Min Article

opioids-summary

Pharmacist who failed to spot falsified fentanyl prescriptions suspended

Pharmacist failed to question issues around a patient's prescriptions, says GPhC

08 Aug 2023 , 1 Min Article

The stages of behaviour change.jpg

Deprescribing opioids in people with chronic pain: part five

The challenges of deprescribing

16 Mar 2023 , 10 Min Module

woman looking at meds.jpg

Deprescribing opioids in people with chronic pain: part four

Understand the definition of deprescribing.

10 Feb 2023 , 10 Min Module

consultation.jpg

Deprescribing opioids in people with chronic pain: part three

Understanding the components of opioid stewardship

11 Jan 2023 , 10 Min Module

man drinking water.jpg

Deprescribing opioids in people with chronic pain: part two

Recognising how good management of chronic pain can improve quality of life

20 Dec 2022 , 10 Min Module

prescription summary.jpg

CPhO issues opioid substitution guidance ahead of bank holiday

'Make the care of the patient your first priority,' says David Webb

14 Sep 2022 , 1 Min Article

Change privacy settings