Pain Medicine Sales Soar

Sales of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs grew by 6.7% in the year ending in February 2015, according to trade figures. Pain killer (analgesics) sales comprise the largest sector accounting for 21.5% of the total, followed by skincare treatment products (19.4%), cough, cold and sore-throat remedies (17.8%) and gastro-intestinal remedies (9.6%). Sales of adult oral analgesics accounts for the highest sales, at 61.9% of the total in 2014/2015.

Reaching New Highs

From these figures the trade report estimates that two-thirds of the adult population in the UK purchase pain killers every year.

The report for pharma mentions factors such as increases in prescription charges in England and the switching of some prescription medicines to over-the-counter (OTC) products and this may have led to the massive increase in demand for OTC pharmaceuticals.

Interestingly the trade report does not seem to mention the alarming increase in the rates of addiction and dependence to pain killers, which most doctors and healthcare professionals specialising in addiction might consider to be the single largest factor.

In his article on Addcition to Painkillers, UK addictions expert Prof Oscar D'Agnone says, "From my personal experience of working in this area, we know the the scale of addiction to prescription drugs is huge. However, measuring the exact extent of addiction to over the counter (OTC) and prescription only (POM) medicines is difficult as the information available varies and we (in practice) only see the tip of the iceberg."

Opioid dependence affects nearly 5 million people and leads to approximately 16,000 deaths annually. 
 
In 2011 there were over eight hundred opioid-related reported deaths in the UK alone, but this is only a tiny proportion in context of the overall scale of the problem in terms of addiction and dependency.
 

Gobsmacking levels of Pain Killer Drugs

 
Another of the biggest factors is the proliferation on on-line pharmacies. In a warning note Prof D'Agnone comments, "In the US, where the non-medical use of prescription drugs by young adults has risen sharply, it was reported that just 34 of the on-line pharmacies has dispensed more than 98 million doses of hydrocodone products in 2006 alone and that in 84% of cases a valid prescription was not required for purchase".
 
 
 
Prof D'Agnone has over thirty years of experience working across the United States and Europe in helping patients with addiction issues. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director. Prof D'Agnone supervises more than 2,500 detoxifications per year whilst working for a number of clinical and rehabilitation units including CRI and International Rehabs
 
Another term for painkillers. Full medical glossary
One of the most used medicines. Full medical glossary
An organ with the ability to make and secrete certain fluids. Full medical glossary
relating to the intestines, the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus Full medical glossary
otitis media Full medical glossary
over the counter Full medical glossary
The treatment of a person with an illness or disability to improve their function and health. Full medical glossary