EXCLUSIVE: Across Britain, seven out of ten pharmacies are prescribing the heroin substitute methadone, highlight the issue of Britain's secret opioid addiction crisis.
The number of people overdosing on methadone has quadrupled in 30 yearsAcross England and Wales there is a secret addiction crisis with almost three out of four community pharmacies prescribing the heroin replacement methadone.
According to figures seen by MailOnline, the NHS has spent £80.6 million in prescribing fees for methadone between the financial years 2015/16 and 2022/23.In 1993, 3.5 per million people died from a methadone overdose. By 2021, that had increased to 11.7 people per million. Since Covid-19, there has been a sharp decline in the number of people overdosing on heroin.
Such is the extent of the problem, the NHS has treatment protocols for pregnant women, from those who are taking heroin and need to switch to methadone, or who become pregnant while on maintenance treatment. The NHS also suggests that breastfeeding while on methadone 'may also help reduce withdrawal symptoms in your baby' despite having linked the drug to 'breathing problems and drowsiness in a few breastfed babies'.
Methadone is an man-made heroin substitute which his highly addictive. Addicts who are offered methadone often remain taking it for many years But recent raids have led to the closure of the 'Scouse Les' county line between Liverpool and Bournemouth and several different county lines between London and the holiday resort.
Eric Lawrence said: 'It's not surprising in the slightest with what I've seen. I've lived in the town for five years and I can see it has gotten worse and it's easy to spot wherever you are in the area.' John H, a retired member of the armed forces, has labeled the town as having a 'lack of standards' and feels the town isn't what it used to be.
A resident said: 'I've heard people call the town a crack city but I didn't realise it got this bad. The ranking is pretty impressive'
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