'Significant' rise in use of prescription pain medication

James Cox

The use of opioids has increased by around 25 per cent in Ireland.

Research from the Royal College of Surgeons has found a sharp increase in the use of prescription pain medication between 2014 and 2022.

Prescriptions for paracetamol rose by 50 per cent, while codeine and stronger opioids increased by even higher percentages.

The prescribing of pain medications by doctors has risen "significantly" in recent years, and is now outpacing England, according to the research.

The study looked at figures from 2014 to 2022 for those with a medical card, and compared it with data from GP practices in England.

The use of opioids rose 25 per cent in Ireland in that time, while specific medicines like codeine and oxycodone increased by even higher amounts.

Frank Moriarty, Associate Professor at the RCSI, said this comes with risks.

Prof Moriarty said: "These medications can when used long-term lead to the development of dependence and other side effects that can have an impact on patients' lives.

"It's really important that in treating pain there are a variety of options available to patients to avail of and potentially reduce use of these dependence-forming medications."