简介：InAmericait’sanepidemic.NownewevidenceraisesconcernabouttheUK’suseofprescriptionopioids.MichaelMosleygoesonanimmersivejourneytoaskwhatcanbedoneaboutit.　　TheopioidepidemichasdevastatedAmerica.Butwhat’sthesituationhere?AnewreportfromPublicHealthEnglandraisesseriousconcernsaboutBritain'sownrelationshipwithpainkillers.DrMichaelMosleyembarksonanimmersivejourneytoBritain’sopioidfrontlineandmeetspatientsstrugglingwithaddictionandGPsfightingaconstantbattletohelpthosesufferingfromchronicpain.Healsouncoversworryingevidenceofpeopleabusingover-the-counteropioidsanddiscovershoweasyitistobuystrongopioidsonline.　　NearlysixmillionpeopleinEnglandandWaleswereprescribedanopioidlastyear.Michaelwantstouncoverhowandwhywe’reconsumingtwicetheamountofopioidsastwentyyearsago,especiallywhenthescientificevidenceheencountersdisturbinglysuggeststhatforthemajorityofpeopletakingthemforchronicpain,thesedrugsmostlydon’tevenwork.Thoughavitaltoolinourdoctors’armourytocombatacutepainandincancerandend-of-lifecare,thePublicHealthEnglandreportrevealedthatmorethanhalfamillionpeoplehavebeenonopioidsformorethanthreeyears.　　Michaelcautionsthatpeopletakingthesedrugsshouldnotsuddenlystoptakingthem.Nevertheless,ashediscovers,longtermorhighdoseusedoesleavethemexposedtogreaterriskofsideeffectsincludingdependency,addictionandevenaccidentaldeathbyoverdose.　　Asmanyas28millionBritonsendurechronicpain-andifwe’retokickwhatseemslikeadangerousnationalopioidhabit,Michaelbelievesthatthecriticalissueisdeprescribing.Millionsnowrequirehelpcomingoffopioidsanddrug-freealternativestothem.ForMichaelthisisnothingshortofachallengeasimportantasthefightagainstcancerandheartdisease.　　Sohowmuchdopeopleonthegroundreallyknowaboutthesepowerfulpainkillers,someofwhich,includingfentanyl,canbemanytimesstrongerthanheroin?Onhistravels,MichaelmeetsKareninHastingswhonowbelievesherfiveyearsonincreasinglystrongopioids‘turnedherintoazombie’.ButhealsoencountersBrendainSalfordwhothinksthemorphineshehastakenforfifteenyearstohelpwithherexcruciatingbackpainisthethingthatmakesherlifejustaboutbearable.AndhespendstimewithVickiwhose50-a-dayover-the-counterpainkillerhabitledtooverdoseandneardeathbeforeshefinallyadmittedheraddictionandstarteddetox.…