Prescription drug addiction Radio 5 Live Investigates 11am Sunday 23rd October 2

[[Ol...]]

Prescription Drug Addiction

5 live Investigates

 

The British Medical Association has told 5 live Investigates it wants urgent action to tackle prescription drug addiction. It's calling for a 24 hour helpline, specialist treatment services across the UK and more information for doctors about withdrawal. The drugs include Benzodiazepines which are generally prescribed for severe anxiety and insomnia. 10 million prescriptions for them were issued in England alone last year and there are estimates that more than a quarter of million people are using the drugs long term - even though in most cases they should only be prescribed for up to four weeks. 5 live Investigates has spoken to people who have been using the drugs for decades.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07zxrdb.

 

[[lo...]]

Hi Olddave

 

I am sorry I missed your thread.  I have been posting about this programme in other threads.

 

This programme is what we need.  The presenter said there had been "an unprecedented response from the public" and that "he had not seen anything like it".

 

Fiona  :thumbsup:

[[La...]]

We CAN hear this in Canada, so thanks for posting it. I'm just listening now. The early part focuses on "addiction", so my back is up a bit. I'll continue to listen and see if they explain physical dependence and iatrogenic effects of taking the medication exactly as prescribed.

[[La...]]

Okay, still listening.....Dr. James Davies has just spoken. Thank goodness for him! He has clarified the situation, as has a listener who has written a damning letter. 

[[lo...]]

Hi Lapis

 

I share your feelings about addiction but overall I am pleased with the whole programme.  I did complain in my email about the use of the word "addiction". 

 

There is apparently going to be more on Radio 5 live tonight at 10.30 pm.  It covers the issues of the day so don't suppose it will be a very long piece.  One of my contacts on Facebook, Claire Violet Hanley, is going to be interviewed. She was on the TV programme on antidepressants.  She has been on benzos and A/Ds.  Anyway it is just a little more exposure. 

 

Fiona 

 

 

[[La...]]

Yes, I'm still listening to the program. Very good! Apparently, the listener response was huge, which speaks to the size of the problem. They're using various lingo here -- "addiction", "dependence", etc. -- so the issue obviously needs more clarification, but I'm SO pleased to hear a whole BBC program on benzodiazepine issues. Excellent!

 

(I have to say, too, that this has been my first experience of hearing cricket match reports! Wow! Sounds exciting, but I haven't a clue what they're referring to.)

[[lo...]]

I'm afraid cricket is something I have never understood!!  >

[[La...]]

We may start hearing more cricket news over here, but for now, it's still baseball, hockey, basketball and soccer (aka "football" over there).

 

Anyway, I'm so glad I could hear that BBC report. With the huge listener response, there's clearly a problem that needs to be addressed, and I'm pleased that the BMA is paying attention. I really do hope there can be ripple effects on this side of the Atlantic. In addition to help and support for those suffering, what I'd like to see is a big focus on prevention and education so that the problems don't start in the first place. The reference to the meds being "handed out like Smarties" still holds today, I believe.

 

(As an aside, I don't think they get Smarties in the U.S., but we do here in Canada. We use that same phrase to talk about such things, but the Americans probably talk about their chocolate-candy equivalent, which is M&Ms!  )

[[lo...]]

I hope so too. 

 

Fiona  :thumbsup:

[[ba...]]

Prescription Drug Addiction

5 live Investigates

 

The British Medical Association has told 5 live Investigates it wants urgent action to tackle prescription drug addiction. It's calling for a 24 hour helpline, specialist treatment services across the UK and more information for doctors about withdrawal. The drugs include Benzodiazepines which are generally prescribed for severe anxiety and insomnia. 10 million prescriptions for them were issued in England alone last year and there are estimates that more than a quarter of million people are using the drugs long term - even though in most cases they should only be prescribed for up to four weeks. 5 live Investigates has spoken to people who have been using the drugs for decades.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07zxrdb.

 

Thanks for sharing Olddave.

 

I was so disappointed listening to this radio program.  The web headline read "Prescription Drug Addiction".  The words "addiction" and "misuse" carried on throughout the webcast.

 

It's really just more of the same crap churned out by media that labels us as addicts.  The very doctors who prescribe these poisons are not at fault; it must be the "junkies" who must return to them for decades...

 

They barely touched on the long term CNS and brain damage that can plague long term users for many, many years.  Testimonies from people that have serious insomnia fall far short of those that are bedridden with crippling, physical symptoms.

 

I never ordered Benzos online.  I never stole these poisons from family and friends.  I stayed within the parameters of my prescription guideline.  And in my final years before my taper, I was very ill. 

 

I still am. 

 

 

 

 

[[lo...]]

There was a second programme on Radio 5 Live last night following on from the programme in the morning.

 

This is a magazine style programme so there are only small segments about benzos here and there.

 

The first segment is from 40 minutes and lasts about 20 minutes.  I am included in that segment.

 

The next segment is at 1 hour 15 minutes but only lasts a few minutes.  A man who has taken benzodiazepines for many years for muscle spasms and who had benefitted from taking them.

 

The next segment is at 1 hour 40 minutes and includes the husband of one of our Buddies.  It lasts about 10 minutes.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07zxrdj

 

Barry Haslam who has campaigned for 30 years on this issue has said that this is the most public exposure he has seen in all those years of campaigning.  Those of us in the UK are extremely pleased that finally we are seeing action.  Our suffering has been publicly acknowledged by those who are in a position to provide services to help those who need it. Any deficiencies in the reporting are a secondary issue in my opinion. 

 

Some of those who spoke on the radio are now being contacted by a national newspaper.

 

Fiona 

[[La...]]

Fantastic news, Fiona! It's quite amazing to see/hear/read everything that's coming out of the UK right now. And to hear Barry Haslam's view of it really puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Wow! Let's hope there's some momentum. Obviously, the interest from papers will help as well.