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Prescriptions for opioids have fallen year-on-year for eight years in the Bailiwick – with there being 3,900 less prescriptions in 2022 than 2014.
20,874 prescriptions were written for patients in 2014. That fell to 16,987 in 2022. The biggest drop was seen between 2016 and 2018 with a difference of 2,867 prescriptions.
The figures include all opioids used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, such as oxycodone, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, and methadone.
Meanwhile the prescription of other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, those for panic and anxiety, and sedatives have also fallen over the same period. These remain more prevalent than opioids, with 24,577 prescribed last year, but have dipped from nearly 30,000 eight years ago.
Health & Social Care says the drop is due to careful recommendations and education for patients.
Reduced costs for the drugs have created savings which have been used to support healthcare in other ways. The total cost for opioids in 2014 - where there were 20,874 prescriptions - was more than £350,000. Last year the cost was £234,471.
There are gaps in the data, as some products, such as lower doses of codeine mixed with paracetamol, can be purchased over the counter at private pharmacies and those sales are not held centrally by government.
“It is important to [Health & Social Care] that islanders have access to the medicines they need. Nevertheless, we are very pleased that the prescribing of these drugs has come down,” said Chief Pharmacist Teena Bhogal.
Pictured: A breakdown of opioid prescriptions in Guernsey and Alderney.
Ms Bhogal added: “It is not about never prescribing them, it is about their wise use…the Prescribing Support Unit has worked hard, with our partner organisations, to ensure appropriate use of these drugs.
“We have used workshops, bulletins, guidelines, collation, interpretation and circulation of benchmarking data at drug, prescriber, practice level, prescribing monitoring, and provided advice on individual situations.”
She added that opioids only benefit a small number of patients and a very beneficial for acute or end of life pain but shouldn’t be used for chronic or as part of long-term treatment plans.
“They can cause significant harm including addiction when taken long term. there is also evidence that they reduce sufferers' quality of life,” Ms Bhogal
“They are expensive and can be diverted. We have paid very close attention to their prescribing… the figures are always to hand."
Opioids available over the counter are “not problem-free” but are recommended by national bodies for short term use for sudden problems, such as pain linked to osteoporosis.
Pictured: Hypnotics and Anxiolytics, such as benzodiazepines, have seen consistent drops in prescribing since 2014.
Express reported last year that prescriptions of anti-depressants had increased by around 5% each year since 2017, although these drugs are not used solely to treat anxiety and depression.
The ‘White List’ of approved medicines in the Bailiwick is available HERE.
Public prescription costs up by millions
Anti-depressant use up every year
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