GPs need training to tackle chronic opioid use

GPs must be better-equipped to support patients to manage the psychological challenge of reducing their opioid use—according to new research from the University of East Anglia. The  recommendation is part of a toolkit being launched today to help GPs reduce the amount of opioids they prescribe. The toolkit outlines seven areas of best practice to tackle chronic opioid use—based on international research evidence, the experiences of health organisations and individual practitioners. It comes after figures for England and Wales revealed an increase in opioid prescriptions of more than 60 per cent over the last decade—from 14 million in 2008 to 23 million last year.