New research has revealed a sharp rise in the use of pain medications, including potentially addictive opioids, in Ireland in recent years, reports RTE.
The study, conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons, shows that people in Ireland take more pain relief than patients in England.
It found that prescriptions for painkillers in Ireland grew substantially between 2014 and 2022, reports RTE.
Opioid use — including drugs like Codeine and Oxycodone — went up by around 25% over the period, while paracetamol prescriptions increased by 50%.
The research focused on patients in Ireland with a medical card — around 1.3 million people — and included data from all general practices in England, reports RTE.
It found that in 2022, over 1,200 prescriptions for opioids were issued for every 1,000 patients.
Meanwhile, England saw a drop in the use of most categories of painkillers during this time, reports RTE.
According to researchers, lengthy waiting times for orthopaedic procedures in Ireland — such as hip and knee operations — may be driving the rise in painkiller use.
They also said the study raises concerns about access to healthcare and the limited availability of non-drug pain management options, reports RTE.
The report highlights that patients in England have better access to services like pain clinics and non-drug treatments such as physiotherapy through the NHS.
They suggest the lack of similar services in Ireland may be contributing to a heavier dependence on medication, reports RTE.
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